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Valves

A valve actuator is a mechanical device that operates a valve using electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic power sources, with two main types being rotary and linear actuators. The selection of an actuator depends on factors such as valve type, available power sources, installation environment, and operational needs. Various manual operators, including levers and hand wheels, are also discussed, along with different valve types and their flow characteristics.

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9 views16 pages

Valves

A valve actuator is a mechanical device that operates a valve using electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic power sources, with two main types being rotary and linear actuators. The selection of an actuator depends on factors such as valve type, available power sources, installation environment, and operational needs. Various manual operators, including levers and hand wheels, are also discussed, along with different valve types and their flow characteristics.

Uploaded by

Hemavardhan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Types of Valve Actuators

The Most Common Types of Valve Actuators


What is a Valve Actuator?
A valve actuator is a mechanical device that uses a power source to operate a
valve. This power source can be electric, pneumatic (compressed air), or
hydraulic (the flow of oil). There are two main types of actuators, one for each
of the two main types of valves that require them. They are rotary and linear.

Selection of the best actuator type for any application is dependent on many
factors including:

 Valve type
 Power sources available
 Environment of installation
 Operational functions and characteristics
• need for fail safe
• cycle life
• duty cycle
• speed of actuation
• need for manual override
 And as always... Cost

Rotary Valve Actuators


As the name implies, rotary valve actuators produce the rotational motion
needed to operate roatary valves such as ball, plug, and butterfly valves.
Rotary actuators are available in many different styles, each with its own
benefits.
Linear Valve Actuators
Linear valves such as globe, gate, and pinch valves - due to their distictly
different operation - require actuators that are drastically different from the
rotary type. These actuators must produce linear motion to operate the valve.
They are also available in many styles.

Valve Actuator Power Sources


Both linear and rotary style actuators are available with the various power
sources mentioned earlier: pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric. In addition to
these, there are also several distinct types of manual operators.

Types of Manual Valve Actuators


Basic Lever
The most common manual operator on smaller quarter-turn valves is the basic
lever. A long handle is attached to the stem and provides the leverage needed
to rotate the valve.

On very small valves, where leverage is not needed, these may be replaced
by ovals, tees, and various other shaped knobs.
There are also some specialty manual operators such as:

 Levers that have a means to lock them in place


 Levers with a spring return (known as a dead man's lever)
 Levers on extenstions for hard to reach valves or valves with extremely
hot or cold media running through them (left most above)
 Knobs that require to be pushed in before they will rotate (right most
above)
Hand Wheels:

Larger valves that require high torque to operate often incorporate geared
hand wheels. These operators have a large hand wheel with a gearbox that
further increases the mechanical advantage. The radius of the wheel and
gearing ratio determines the amount of mechanical advantage provided.
These wheels will require multiple revolutions to turn the valve only 90
degrees. These type of operators are commonly found on larger butterfly
valves, typically 8 inches and above.

If the valve is located high enough to be out of reach, a chain wheel will be
added to the same type of gearbox so that the valve can be operated from the
ground. The chain is in a long loop that hangs down to where it can be easily
reached. The operator would simply pull down on one side of the chain loop to
open the valve, and the other side to close it.
Manual Valves with Limit Switches
Many times manual valves perform a function that does not require automated
actuation, but the system still needs to know what postion they are in. Manual
valves with limit switches (position indicators) are used in these cases. While
the valve is still operated manually, the switches communicate the valve's
current position to the control system.

Linear Actuators: Different Mechanical Styles

Linear Actuators: Motorized Valve Actuators


Different Types of Valves
Globe valves belong to the multi-turn/linear motion classification of valves
because they use a multi-turn, threaded stem to move the valve disc in a
linear direction. A gate valve also uses a multi-turn hand wheel to move the
valve plug in a linear direction, but a gate valve has a straight-through flow.
Needle Valve - How They Work

A needle valve is used to accurately control flow rates of clean gasses or


liquids. Gradual adjustments of the stem and plunger enable smooth flow
control. These valves generally have low flow rates and a relatively significant
pressure drop from the inlet to the outlet. Standard port sizes for needle
valves range from 1/8” to 2” (2 to 12 mm). The most common application of a
needle valve is to control gas flow, such as propane in a tank.
2-Way ball valve
For a 2-way ball valve, the flow direction is from the input to the valves output.
The flow can be closed by turning the valve handle perpendicular to the
direction of flow.
The flow behaviour of a valve is dictated by the
manner in which the flow areas A1 and A2 changes
with valve position and therefore by the style and
design of the valve trimming and in particular the
design of the valve seat and closure member (plug).

The quick opening flow characteristic provides for


maximum change in flow rate at low valve travels with
a nearly linear relationship. Additional increases in
valve travel gives sharply reduced changes in flow
rate.

The linear flow characteristic curve allows the flow


rate to be directly proportional to the valve travel
(Δq/Δx equals a constant) or in terms of the inherent
valve characteristic, f(x) = x.

An equal percentage valve starts initially with a slow


increase in flow rate with valve position which
dramatically increases as the valve opens more.
The term equal percentage for a slow opening
characteristic curve may at first be confused with the
description of a linear characteristic curve.

However, for an equal percentage valve, Δq/Δx at any


stage, is proportional to the flow rate q at that
moment. This is in contrast with a linear characteristic
for which Δq/Δx is constant.

That Δq/Δx is proportional to q, may be rephrased as


Δq/q is proportional to Δx. This means the percentage
change Δq with respect to the current flow rate q (that
is (Δq/q)×100), is equal at every valve travel position
x for the same change in valve travel Δx, hence
the term ‘equal percentage’.

The inherent valve characteristic for an equal


percentage valve is exponential in nature and is
normally given by valve manufacturers in the form
Inherent Control Valve Flow Characteristics
The most common characteristics are shown in the figure above. The percent of flow
through the valve is plotted against valve stem position. The curves shown are typical of
those available from valve manufacturers. These curves are based on constant
pressure drop across the valve and are called inherent flow characteristics.

 Linear - flow capacity increases linearly with valve travel.


 Equal percentage - flow capacity increases exponentially with valve trim travel. Equal
increments of valve travel produce equal percentage changes in the existing Cv.
 A modified parabolic characteristic is approximately midway between linear and
equal-percentage characteristics. It provides fine throttling at low flow capacity and
approximately linear characteristics at higher flow capacity.
 Quick opening provides large changes in flow for very small changes in lift. It usually
has too high a valve gain for use in modulating control. So it is limited to on-off service,
such as sequential operation in either batch or semi-continuous processes.
 Hyperbolic
 Square Root
The majority of control applications are with valves with linear, equal-percentage, or
modified-flow characteristics.

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