Glossary · Pneumatics and hydraulics
Valve island
Also known as: Valve terminal, Valve manifold assembly
German: Ventilinsel
In pneumatics, a valve island is an assembly of several valves on a common manifold with shared supply and exhaust and a common electrical connection, often a fieldbus or industrial Ethernet interface with diagnostics.
- Fluid power
In one sentence
A valve island groups valves on a common manifold with shared air supply and one electrical or fieldbus connection.
Example
A 16-station valve island with a PROFINET interface controls all cylinders of an assembly station from one network connection.
How it applies
- Engineering: Valve islands reduce wiring and tubing and provide diagnostics such as short circuit or undervoltage. Zones with separate supplies allow parts of the machine to be de-energized or exhausted independently.
- Commissioning: Valve positions are assigned to addresses; the assignment must match the circuit diagram and the PLC program.
- Maintenance: Valves can be exchanged on the island, but pneumatic and electrical energy must be switched off first.
- Documentation: Provide a position map (station number, valve type, actuator, address). If a safety function switches off voltage or air to the island, describe it as a safety function; the island's diagnostics alone are not a safety function.
Valve island vs. manifold
A Manifold (fluid power) only distributes air. A valve island integrates valves, electrical connection and usually communication.