- Created: 05-01-22
- Last Login: 05-01-22
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TTmkiuyy120
An actuator is a type of motor, typically operated by electric
current, hydraulic fluid or air pressure that's widely used in the
Process Industry for moving or controlling a mechanism or system.
How do actuators work?
Actuators take fluid, electric or some other source of power and
convert it through a motor, piston or other devices to perform work.
Basic versions are used to move
Actuated Valves
to either fully opened or fully closed positions. While
actuators for control or position regulating valves are given a
positioning signal to move to any intermediate position with a high
degree of accuracy.
Actuator types
There are four main types of actuators that are a combination of the
type of power applied and the type of movement required at the valve.
Pneumatic Actuators are one of the most common and
dependable configurations of actuators and are capable of quickly
operating very large valves. The main advantage of this type of
actuator is that all of the accessories are incorporated in the
package and are physically and environmentally protected. It has all
the basic and advanced functions incorporated in a compact housing
which can be watertight, explosion-proof and in some circumstances,
submersible.
Electric Actuators are very similar except that the
final drive element is usually in one quadrant that puts out a 90°
motion. The newer generation of quarter-turn actuators incorporates
many of the features found in the most sophisticated multi-turn
actuators. They are compact, so can be used on smaller valves, and
because of their lower power requirements, they can be fitted with an
emergency power source such as a battery to provide failsafe
operation.
Fluid power quarter-turn actuators are extremely versatile and can
be used where there is no readily available electric power or where
simplicity and reliability are essential. They can also withstand
considerable mechanical abuse. The smallest can deliver a few inch
pounds of torque where the largest are capable of producing in excess
of a million inch-pounds of torque. Almost all fluid power actuators
utilize a cylinder and a mechanism to covert the linear motion
generated in the cylinder to a quarter-turn motion.
Fluid Power multi-turn actuators are frequently used when multi-
turn output is required to operate a linear type
Pneumatic Valves (such as a gate or globe valve). Electric
actuators are often used for this type of valve but, if there is no
electric power supply readily available, pneumatic or hydraulic motors
can be used to operate multi-turn actuators.
Selecting a valve actuator
The correct type and size of
Valve Actuators
can be determined by checking:
The Power source
The type of valve
The torque required by the valve
Remote control
One of the great advantages of an automated valve is that it can be
remotely controlled without having to physically go to the
Electric Valves and give it an open or close command. A common
method of positioning an actuator is to feed it a proportional signal
(such as 4-20 mA), so that the actuator can then position itself in
direct portion to the received signal.
If you have worked with any kind of fluid processing system, then you
are familiar with ball valves and the crucial job they do. Ball
Valves are quarter-
turn valves that are often made with full-bore designs. This means
they can completely stop flow when closed and will not hinder flow
when opened. This is valuable with flow rate and pressure are
important to the application. Stainless steel is one of the strongest
and most resilient materials out there, with top-notch pressure and
temperature resistances. There are too many applications for stainless
steel ball valves, but in this article we will look at some of the
most common. But first, what makes stainless steel so special?
What is Stainless Steel?
The reason there are so many uses for stainless steel
Ball Valves
is that it is a fantastic material. It is tougher than cast
iron, ductile iron, brass, and copper when it comes to pressure rating
and temperature tolerance. Stainless steel competes with carbon steel
on many fronts, but beats it by a mile in corrosion resistance. For
this reason, applications for stainless steel ball valves are
typically demanding in one or more area (corrosion, temperature,
pressure).
Stainless steel is a fantastic material that is difficult to beat, but
it does have one major drawback: price. There is a major price jump
from iron valves to steel
Butterfly
Valves, but it is warranted! The price jump is reflected by a
jump in quality from one material to another. Stainless steel is the
best of the best, with high pressure tolerance, temperature limits,
and corrosion resistance.
current, hydraulic fluid or air pressure that's widely used in the
Process Industry for moving or controlling a mechanism or system.
How do actuators work?
Actuators take fluid, electric or some other source of power and
convert it through a motor, piston or other devices to perform work.
Basic versions are used to move
Actuated Valves
to either fully opened or fully closed positions. While
actuators for control or position regulating valves are given a
positioning signal to move to any intermediate position with a high
degree of accuracy.
Actuator types
There are four main types of actuators that are a combination of the
type of power applied and the type of movement required at the valve.
Pneumatic Actuators are one of the most common and
dependable configurations of actuators and are capable of quickly
operating very large valves. The main advantage of this type of
actuator is that all of the accessories are incorporated in the
package and are physically and environmentally protected. It has all
the basic and advanced functions incorporated in a compact housing
which can be watertight, explosion-proof and in some circumstances,
submersible.
Electric Actuators are very similar except that the
final drive element is usually in one quadrant that puts out a 90°
motion. The newer generation of quarter-turn actuators incorporates
many of the features found in the most sophisticated multi-turn
actuators. They are compact, so can be used on smaller valves, and
because of their lower power requirements, they can be fitted with an
emergency power source such as a battery to provide failsafe
operation.
Fluid power quarter-turn actuators are extremely versatile and can
be used where there is no readily available electric power or where
simplicity and reliability are essential. They can also withstand
considerable mechanical abuse. The smallest can deliver a few inch
pounds of torque where the largest are capable of producing in excess
of a million inch-pounds of torque. Almost all fluid power actuators
utilize a cylinder and a mechanism to covert the linear motion
generated in the cylinder to a quarter-turn motion.
Fluid Power multi-turn actuators are frequently used when multi-
turn output is required to operate a linear type
Pneumatic Valves (such as a gate or globe valve). Electric
actuators are often used for this type of valve but, if there is no
electric power supply readily available, pneumatic or hydraulic motors
can be used to operate multi-turn actuators.
Selecting a valve actuator
The correct type and size of
Valve Actuators
can be determined by checking:
The Power source
The type of valve
The torque required by the valve
Remote control
One of the great advantages of an automated valve is that it can be
remotely controlled without having to physically go to the
Electric Valves and give it an open or close command. A common
method of positioning an actuator is to feed it a proportional signal
(such as 4-20 mA), so that the actuator can then position itself in
direct portion to the received signal.
If you have worked with any kind of fluid processing system, then you
are familiar with ball valves and the crucial job they do. Ball
Valves are quarter-
turn valves that are often made with full-bore designs. This means
they can completely stop flow when closed and will not hinder flow
when opened. This is valuable with flow rate and pressure are
important to the application. Stainless steel is one of the strongest
and most resilient materials out there, with top-notch pressure and
temperature resistances. There are too many applications for stainless
steel ball valves, but in this article we will look at some of the
most common. But first, what makes stainless steel so special?
What is Stainless Steel?
The reason there are so many uses for stainless steel
Ball Valves
is that it is a fantastic material. It is tougher than cast
iron, ductile iron, brass, and copper when it comes to pressure rating
and temperature tolerance. Stainless steel competes with carbon steel
on many fronts, but beats it by a mile in corrosion resistance. For
this reason, applications for stainless steel ball valves are
typically demanding in one or more area (corrosion, temperature,
pressure).
Stainless steel is a fantastic material that is difficult to beat, but
it does have one major drawback: price. There is a major price jump
from iron valves to steel
Butterfly
Valves, but it is warranted! The price jump is reflected by a
jump in quality from one material to another. Stainless steel is the
best of the best, with high pressure tolerance, temperature limits,
and corrosion resistance.