ABB V18345 Modules

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

ABB V18345 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The ABB V18345 series of electropneumatic valve positioners occupies a critical position in global heavy industry automation infrastructure. Deployed extensively across chemical processing plants, oil refineries, nuclear power facilities, and LNG terminals, the V18345 platform provides precise pneumatic actuator positioning with HART, PROFIBUS PA, and Foundation Fieldbus communication options. Its modular architecture and DIN-rail-compatible housing have made it a standard specification in ABB's process automation portfolio for over two decades. End users in petrochemical and power generation sectors rely on V18345 units for final control element management in safety-instrumented and regulatory control loops.

The Evolution of V18345 Architecture

The V18345 lineage traces to ABB's TZID-C positioner platform, which established the electropneumatic positioning standard in European process industries during the 1990s. The V18345 generation introduced a fully digital feedback loop, replacing analog cam-based mechanical feedback with a contactless position sensor. Early variants (suffix -10xxx) supported 4–20 mA analog input only. Mid-generation revisions introduced HART 5/6 overlay communication, enabling remote diagnostics without loop interruption. Later suffix variants (-20xxx and above) added PROFIBUS PA and Foundation Fieldbus as native protocol options, eliminating the need for separate protocol converters. The current production architecture integrates partial stroke testing (PST) capability directly in firmware, satisfying IEC 61511 SIL 2 requirements for safety loops. Compatibility between early analog-only units and modern DCS systems requires a 4–20 mA output card; direct digital bus integration is not backward-compatible with pre-HART variants.

V18345 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified, commonly stocked configurations within the ABB V18345 series, organized by communication protocol and actuator type:

Analog / HART Variants

• V18345-1010251001: Single-acting, 4–20 mA input, HART 5/6, stainless steel housing, -20°C to +80°C
• V18345-1010251002: Single-acting, 4–20 mA input, HART 5/6, aluminum housing, standard ambient rating
• V18345-1010351001: Double-acting, 4–20 mA input, HART 5/6, stainless steel housing, split-range capable
• V18345-1010351002: Double-acting, 4–20 mA input, HART 5/6, aluminum housing, standard configuration
• V18345-1010251003: Single-acting, HART 6, explosion-proof (ATEX II 2G Ex d), stainless steel
• V18345-1010351003: Double-acting, HART 6, explosion-proof (ATEX II 2G Ex d), aluminum housing
• V18345-1010251004: Single-acting, HART 6, intrinsically safe (ATEX II 1G Ex ia), low-power loop
• V18345-1010351004: Double-acting, HART 6, intrinsically safe (ATEX II 1G Ex ia), zone 0 rated

PROFIBUS PA Variants

• V18345-2010251001: Single-acting, PROFIBUS PA, stainless steel, segment coupler compatible
• V18345-2010351001: Double-acting, PROFIBUS PA, aluminum housing, standard bus termination
• V18345-2010251002: Single-acting, PROFIBUS PA, ATEX Ex d, stainless steel, hazardous area rated
• V18345-2010351002: Double-acting, PROFIBUS PA, ATEX Ex ia, intrinsically safe bus interface

Foundation Fieldbus Variants

• V18345-3010251001: Single-acting, Foundation Fieldbus H1, stainless steel, ITK 6.x compliant
• V18345-3010351001: Double-acting, Foundation Fieldbus H1, aluminum housing, standard segment
• V18345-3010251002: Single-acting, Foundation Fieldbus H1, ATEX Ex d, stainless steel, SIL 2 capable
• V18345-3010351002: Double-acting, Foundation Fieldbus H1, ATEX Ex ia, intrinsically safe, zone 1
• V18345-3010251003: Single-acting, Foundation Fieldbus H1, stainless steel, with PST (partial stroke test) firmware

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete V18345 Parts

Several early V18345 analog-only variants (suffix -10xxx, pre-HART) have reached end-of-production status with ABB. Standard OEM lead times for active variants range from 8 to 20 weeks depending on regional distribution. DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory of both active-production and discontinued V18345 units sourced through authorized secondary channels and decommissioned plant buybacks. For facilities operating legacy DCS platforms (ABB Advant, Bailey INFI 90, Freelance 2000) where analog-only positioners remain the only compatible option, DriveKNMS provides direct unit replacement without requiring DCS reconfiguration. All sourced units are accompanied by full traceability documentation including original manufacturer labeling, serial number records, and where available, original calibration certificates. Emergency dispatch for critical process shutdowns is supported with same-day quotation response.

Quality Control for the V18345 Range

V18345 units processed through DriveKNMS undergo a structured verification protocol specific to electropneumatic positioner architecture. Each unit is bench-tested on a dedicated pneumatic test rig supplying regulated instrument air at 1.4 bar and 6 bar supply pressure. The 4–20 mA input signal is swept across the full range using a calibrated loop calibrator (Fluke 709H or equivalent), and the pneumatic output is measured against the specified travel range using a calibrated displacement sensor. For HART-enabled units, a HART communicator (Emerson 475 or equivalent) is used to verify device descriptor (DD) integrity, PV/SV/TV/QV variable mapping, and diagnostic status byte output. PROFIBUS PA and Foundation Fieldbus variants are tested on a live segment with a segment coupler and verified for correct GSD/CFF file recognition and cyclic data exchange. Mechanical inspection covers the feedback shaft coupling, O-ring seals on the pneumatic block, and the position sensor alignment. Units failing any parameter are quarantined and not returned to inventory.