Preventing Damage To Process Controls at Oil & Gas Refineries

In a refinery setting, fire and explosion safety are paramount concerns. The potential harm to people and property is immense. Therefore, it is important to take appropriate steps to prevent, contain and extinguish any fire hazards. Protecting process controls is particularly important. Avoiding damage to these systems can help to mitigate the impact of a refinery fire.

Protecting Process Controls

When a fire or explosive hazard occurs in an oil and gas refinery, the fire and gas safety system must activate. Additionally, the process control system must take automated, preventative steps to avoid the situation from worsening. If process controls in the refinery are damaged by fire or explosion, it could lead to the danger rapidly worsening.

•       Fire-Resistant Enclosures: Many manufacturers and suppliers offer fire-resistant enclosures for control systems. These are available as flexible, semi-rigid and rigid options. Resistance ratings vary but some are capable of protecting components from 2,200°F temperatures for up to 120 minutes. Many rigid solutions are also resistant to blast overpressure.

•       Fire-Retardant Coating: Another solution that can be applied to existing equipment, fire retardant coatings can provide 30+ minutes of protection at up to 2,000°F. This option is very space-efficient, durable and weatherproof. However, coatings offer little to no blast resistance.

•       Fire-Resistant Components: Some control system components are designed to be fire and explosion-resistant with no added enclosure or coating. These options are highly effective, especially when combined with other solutions. However, they are often new components that requires replacing existing equipment.

A combination of the above protective solutions for critical components and integration between fire and gas systems and the process control system is advisable. Automatically enabling an emergency shutdown as soon as a hazard is detected helps contain the problem. However, this is only possible if the control systems are sufficiently heat and blast resistant.

Actuators for High Temperature and Explosive Situations

Actuators play a major role in the control of refinery equipment. Standard pneumatic actuators may not be sufficiently resilient to handle the temperature extremes and pressures of an oil and gas refinery. Sourcing from the right valve actuator manufacturer can help ensure high-quality actuators for your high temperature situations. An explosion proof valve actuator that can stand up to the rigors of fire and gas hazards is worth the investment.

Refinery engineers should strongly consider process control solutions that are designed for the oil and gas industry. Valve control actuators for oil refineries and gas transmission purposes are often tested for shock, heat exposure and hazardous conditions. These could make the difference between a contained explosion and serious damage to the refinery and potentially people.

Summary

Combatting fires and explosions in a refinery is no simple undertaking. The potential impact is so immense that comprehensive, preventative solutions are necessary. Combining automation with fire-resistant enclosures, coatings and components can ensure that a minor fire or explosion does not turn into a catastrophe.

Will These Kitchen Appliances Fit Under Your Tree?

When it’s time to update your kitchen, you want to invest in the highest quality replacement appliances. If cooking is one of your passions, why not give yourself and your family the gift of a chef’s kitchen for your home? These high end kitchen appliances will take home cooking to the next level, giving your loved one the best tools available so he or she can cook comfortably and make complex recipes with a professional flair.

Bring Style With a Freestanding Range

When you choose a stovetop for your kitchen, be on the lookout for gorgeous high end kitchen appliances that will enhance your kitchen’s appearance and provide innovative cooking technology. Viking specializes in kitchen ranges and offers sophisticated finish colors in Antique White, Graphite Black and Dark Blue. The brand has the latest technology and burners that give you complete control, with high heat capabilities that can boil quickly or offer the gentlest amount of heat.

The brand currently has a limited edition black Rose Bold range with rose gold details, perfectly on trend. This is the ideal gift for a family member who loves cooking and appreciates serious equipment. Though it won’t fit under the tree, recipients will love this high-tech gift anyway.

Stay Festive With a Wine Refrigerator

For wine enthusiasts, a refrigerator designed specifically to preserve wine is a lifesaver. Since they are designed specifically to keep wine in prime condition, you can trust one of these with your vintage or rare bottles. Choose between the undercounter options, if your collection is modest, or add a full panel refrigerator for an extensive collection. Sub Zero offers refrigeration that fits anywhere from 46 to 147 bottles.

Keep the full flavor intact with protection from heat, light and humidity that can damage wine. Will it fit under the tree? Probably not, but undercounter models are compact enough to store next to the tree with the other large gifts.

Get Modern With Induction Cooktops

Induction cooking has the benefit of only heating pans and pots, making it a good child-safe option. Since only the necessary part of the cooktop are heated, cooking is a little faster and easier with induction, and the smooth surface is a lot easier to clean.

Miele offers the perfect induction surface for your luxury kitchen design, in a variety of sizes so you can fit induction in with the rest of your kitchen. They come with advanced settings and easy to use controls that won’t get in the way of your cooking. You could probably fit this sleek panel under the tree, but installation should be part of the gift.

This holiday season, spoil the chefs in your family with luxury kitchen appliances that look as sophisticated as the rest of the kitchen. You may need the help of a passionate kitchen designer who owns a kitchen design company in NJ to pull off the installation process for you.

Advanced Actuation & Automation Processes in Gas Lines

Precision and safety are critical in the oil and gas industry. Automation using flow control valve actuators optimizes efficiency, modulates the flow of gas or liquid, increases safety for operators and decreases maintenance and operating costs over time. The automation industry has recognized that the function of actuators has moved beyond just opening and closing valves to providing key diagnostic and operational data via Bluetooth interfaces from sensors that measure pressure, torque and vibration. The types of actuators needed are dependent on a variety of factors.

Types of Valves

The types of valves controlled by the actuators determine the actuator used. The actuator must be matched to the following characteristics of the valves:

• Function

• Movement

• Position

The frequency that the valves are used varies with the function of the valves. Those that open up or close off the flow completely for maintenance or safety reasons are used less frequently than those that continually modulate the flow of gas or liquid. Similarly, the movement of the valves varies with the type of valve, requiring actuation. Controls for ball valves require a swivel movement provided by a quarter-turn actuator, while a multi-turn actuator would enable the many turns required to open or close a valve.

Precision is key in oil and gas transmission and electric actuators can provide superior positioning accuracy. Position accuracy is important for control valves that modulate the flow during the various stages. From the initial flow of crude oil and natural gas to storage and transportation, then finally to the refining and distribution process, the valves modulate not only the flow rate and pressure through the various pipe diameters but the rate that the oil or gas is fed into the various processes along the way.

Processes

The more processes involved, the more actuators are needed to manage the complexity of the system. We recommend you work closely with your electric actuator manufacturer to help configure a solution that is right for your needs. Sensor technology has expanded the use of flow control valve actuators to allow for monitoring in real-time and integration into IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things). Much like the smart electronics being used in factories and homes, the controls for ball valves have embraced smart technology to deliver improved flow control. Integration with supervisory control systems enables next-generation processes such as asset management on a plant-wide scale and optimized maintenance control and scheduling. Integrated operations combined with wireless communication provide operational information at a faster rate, allowing more processes to be managed with fewer resources but with increased accuracy, efficiency and response time.

Opening and Closing Big Valves Within a Wastewater Treatment Plant

For townships and cities that maintain a central sewer system, it is important to treat the wastewater and make it safe for release back into the environment. The mechanical operations of flow control valves, actuators, circulation tanks and gates help treatment plants manage the flow of wastewater during this process.

Today, more Americans than ever believe in environmental protection. After all, there is no doubt that improper waste management leads to contamination and the spread of diseases. This makes it all the more important for municipalities to ensure they have full control over the flow of all substances in and out of these treatment plants.

Mistakes can be costly and valve failure must be prevented. This is just one of the many reasons so many municipalities rely on electric actuators over hydraulic or pneumatic actuators.

A Brief History of Waste Treatment

In 1948, Congress signed the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to address the contamination of water supply systems. As awareness grew in America, it created enough momentum to pass the 1972 Clean Water Act. Not only do homes and businesses need to abide by the 1972 law, but municipalities need to as well.

Since then, there have been several amendments to strengthen the law and to provide more leeway to the EPA to implement programs aimed at solving pollution problems. Wastewater treatment plays a significant role in this goal.

The Needs of the Treatment Plant

Municipality maintenance crews are beholden to check and maintain the integrity of the rotary actuators for valves and gates that help to manage the flow of water and wastewater sludge. Periodic testing is mandatory to help keep the system stable. The flow of wastewater through primary and secondary clarifiers must not be impeded upon and the cleaning of debris and grit screens daily ids a must. The chlorination process works best when the majority of heavy particulates are removed before chlorination. Often the controls for butterfly valves is what impedes water flow, especially if older hydraulic equipment is not well maintained. These pages do a good job defining what is a hydraulic actuator and what is a pneumatic actuator.

Each treatment plant is different and should be evaluated as an independent unit. However, all treatment plants prioritize the release of safe substances back into the environment well after the dichlorination process and final filtering with sodium bisulfate. Problems occur when there is faulty equipment in the flow of water and sludge water. This flow requires the use of heavy-duty valves built to handle wastewater that may also hold suspended solids and reliable actuators for wastewater treatment applications. The valves, in turn, need the right controls to ensure maximum precision.

The Importance of Precision

When it comes to wastewater management, engineers and operators must be able to maintain the controls for these butterfly valves and wastewater gates. Selecting a good valve actuator manufacturer to evaluate the needs before selecting the right equipment can help. Opening and closing these big valves requires not just the right equipment from a reputable valve actuator manufacturer to stand behind their equipment.

Even a small glitch can wreak havoc. For shut off valves that workers may control manually, opening and closing at the wrong time may not only lead to contamination but valve damage.

Industrial Linear Actuators that work best in Hazardous Situations

It is understood that precision and reliability are the primary reasons why mechanical engineers prefer using electric linear actuators over fluid power actuators in critical powertrain applications. But what about in high temperature environments and combustible situations? Some electric linear actuator manufacturers have developed solutions that you may find interesting.

Pneumatic actuators have been the standard for design engineers in hazardous environments due to the lack of an electrical power source. But they are often prone to air leaks, they tend to be larger in size and the stop point precision is not as exacting as their electronic cousins. When precise reliable linear motion is required, electric linear actuation offers some very compelling benefits. Since maintenance and repairs of pneumatic actuators needs to be included into the equation, electric actuators tend to be more durable over time and therefore more economical over the long term.

Making Hazardous Situations More Tolerable

Several manufacturers of explosion proof valve actuators are using NEMA class VII enclosures for the exterior metal castings for certain actuators. This classification of material improves its ability to withstand high impact explosions and prevent penetration from toxic liquids. Flexible designs allow the digital control module, circuitry and critical wiring to be separated from the gear train and mechanical operations of the actuator and therefore can be positioned a safer distance from high temperatures. The most common concerns for analysis include explosions, fire, and shock hazards. Combustible materials such as acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, methane, propane, alkali metals, magnesium metal, and metallic hydrides, all fall into the hazardous materials category. Today a 120 V linear actuator can be made impenetrable to these hazardous materials and made more compact than the clunkier pneumatic actuators that do similar tasks.

What is Pneumatic Actuation

These types of actuators operate using compressed gas. The compressed gas then generates force and induces motion of a piston. The air compressor serves as the power source of pneumatic actuators. They tend to be simple and durable, and good for high-speed operations. Use of a pneumatic actuator with modern controls typically requires an analog converter for delivering a control signal setpoint. This is a primary drawback since technology developments in the past 10 years has gone beyond this older methodology.

Conclusion

Both pneumatic and electric rotary actuators work best in hazardous situations where there are large air flow dampers involved. A 120 V linear actuator that has been built to NEMA VII specifications and has a flexible electronics compartment is often a wise choice to tight locations were precision and reliability are of utmost importance. There are several electric actuator manufacturers in the USA that are making high quality industrial actuators that are designed specifically for hazardous environments.

Selecting the Right Automation Solutions for Valves

Create a customized solution for your valve automation today. Whether you’re looking to update your current equipment or installing a brand-new valve that requires automation, compare these essential components for valve actuation and other automation solutions designed to streamline your process and improve your overall efficiency.

Linear Vs. Rotary Actuators

One of the most important factors in selecting the right automation is choosing between linear and rotary actuators. Linear actuators operate with pinch, gate and globe valves to create an efficient automated valve operation. Each of these options require movement in a straight line, so a linear actuator manipulates the valve in this pattern.

A rotary actuator works with different types of motor operated valves. These actuators produce more traditional rotational movements. Choose a rotary actuator if you need automation for your plug, ball or butterfly valves.

Comparing Power Sources

Once you’ve selected the ideal actuator movement, your controllers and positioners require a specific power source. Whether you’ve chosen linear or rotary actuators, select one of these reliable sources of power:

• Electric

• Hydraulic

• Pneumatic

Electric is a popular option for custom linear actuators. It allows you to control your actuator with precision, requires a cost-effective maintenance schedule and is flexible enough to be used for a variety of industrial valves. However, heavy-duty valves require stronger electric motors, pneumatic power or hydraulic pressure for proper use.

Selecting Accessories

Finally, your valve actuator requires a series of accessories for precision performance. Pneumatic actuators in particular require solenoid valves, positioners and limit switches for safe and effective operation.

Solenoid valves are used as a pilot valve for your heavy duty linear actuator and other pneumatic rotary actuator designs. These control devices control the air pressure through either manual manipulation or electrical signal. When connected with the latest computer software, your solenoid valve will automatically adjust the pressure and timing of your pneumatic actuator for precision control of your valve.

A positioner is essential for throttling your air flow. Be sure your pneumatic positioner allows you the level of control and maximum air flow you need to operate your valve and accurately adjust the flow rate as necessary.

Finally, a limit switch is necessary for accurate control of your valve. Similar to an electrical actuator, a pneumatic actuator requires a limit switch to signal when you’ve reached the appropriate rotational point on your valve.

Automate Your Valves Today

Discover how you can select the ideal automation solution using the proper flow control valve actuators in order to achieve precision results and improve your industrial performance. Discuss your options with a respected flow control automation engineer and select the actuator that controls your valves and produces proven results today.

Ball Valves or Globe Valves: Which Is Better for Flow Control?

Actuators play a major role in flow control. Suboptimal performance in this area can have noticeable effects on overall efficiency, wear and tear, costs and safety. A reputable valve manufacturer can help you select the most appropriate product for your purposes.

Globe Valve Operation

Globe valves operate by linear motion and are used today for many types of flow control despite presenting several problems you may have discovered through your research. A globe valve has the advantage of effective shutoff capability, as well as fairly good throttling. On the other hand, these valves need a larger actuator in order to seat the valve when there is significant pressure underneath the valve. A larger actuator means longer response times. They can also produce a higher pressure drop compared to other types of valves.

Ball Valve Operation

Ball valves have a spherical unit with a bore through it. When the bore is aligned with the pipeline, flow passes through it. Rotating the unit takes the bore out of alignment and shuts off fluid flow. A top advantage of a ball valve is that it provides complete shutoff with zero leakage if it I properly constructed and sealed.

Impact of Valve Characteristics on Flow Control

One problem with globe valves is the lack of precise control as it opens. Typically, a globe valve opens abruptly, as it initially needs more force from the actuator. Once opening has begun and flow is established, the flow creates pressure that continues to push upward, which in turn increases the rate of flow to beyond what is needed.

Ball valves, on the other hand, open smoothly, as rotation occurs gradually. Even with minimum flow, the actuator does not have to apply that initial push which then results in excessive flow you may find for globe valves.

Today, ball valves can be made in a variety of materials, including those that resist heat and moisture. An electric actuator manufacturer can offer a range of products, including rotary actuators for valves, that optimize the desired functions of a ball valve and maximize the advantages it offers.

Globe valves tend to dominate the market, specifically in the HVAC space. The reason for this is because specifying engineers and installation contractors taught in school and therefore have more experience with the use of globe valves because they have been around longer than ball valves. Ball valves were first introduced in the 1950’s and the education effort for thee types of valves has been inferior to that of globe valves. This lack of effort to educate industry professionals like valve actuator manufacturers, engineers that specify process control for valves and installation professionals does not change the fact that ball valves are superior to globe valves in many industrial flow control situations.

Actuators for High-Temperature Situations

Actuator performance plays a vital role in overall process optimization. To prevent unnecessary outages, excessive wear and tear, and other problems, boiler control should be accomplished through actuators manufactured to perform well in that particular setting. Often that setting involves excessive temperatures where standard actuators not designed for high temperatures have the potential to fail. The dampers that regulate air flow in boiler operations require:

• Consistent performance under varying conditions

• The ability to make small adjustments

• Continuous modulation

• Low periodic maintenance requirements

Good boiler control requires an actuator that delivers both precision and reliability. The issue with many actuators on the market today is that they often provide one at the expense of the other.

Pneumatic and hydraulic actuators are generally not suitable for high-temperature situations. Pneumatic actuators tend to lack consistency and suffer from stick-slip response. Hydraulic actuators provide better control, but potential leaks may create a hazard near a boiler. Thus, electric actuators tend to be the standard for boiler control. However, not all electrical actuators have the right design for this application.

Continuous Modulating Control

The major shortcoming of standard actuators is that they are typically under duty-cycle limitations. While this works to prevent the motor from overheating, it also results in periodic losses of control. Boiler function without continuous control tends to result in more frequent outages and poor control.

Importance of Precision

Optimal process control for dampers and valves includes the ability to make minor adjustments remotely as situations change. Without it, cycling increases and there is a decrease in process consistency. For some boiler actuator manufacturers, the solution to avoiding an overheating engine is making the actuator with a large band, which leads to suboptimal valve placement. An actuator that offers continuous control has the capacity to respond to changing conditions. Some boilers are subject to extreme load swings and the actuator would require an instantaneous response capability to compensate for these changes, without overshooting the positioning.  Precise, instant control responses help improve boiler function.

Reliability

Boiler actuators must function reliably under significant and varying loads, in changing and high-temperature environments. Effectiveness in this realm requires materials that perform well in harsh environments. High quality design and strict adherence to precision manufacturing practices are all important components. A continuous control actuator ends up experiencing less wear and tear due to the fact that it makes corrections instantly.

Benefits of Optimizing Boiler Control

When selecting actuators for high temperatures, plant managers naturally take into account cost effectiveness. However, this should not lead to choosing the lowest priced product, just meeting minimal standards. In the short term, a more efficient actuator cuts down on the amount of repairs and maintenance that will be needed. In the long run, it supports optimal boiler function, which yields lower maintenance costs in additional to many additional benefits.

Improved boiler efficiency cuts down on fuel costs and improves process performance. In addition, well-designed high-temperature actuators help reduce emissions, including NOx, excess oxygen and coal fire particles. Obtaining continuous control actuators can help improve compliance with relevant emissions standards.

The Role of Actuators in Productivity Growth

The United States economy relies heavily on the manufacturing industry. The production of commercial goods, exports and the abundance of jobs helps this country thrive. Last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over the last decade, growth in manufacturing productivity only increased an average of 0.7% versus an astounding 4.3% the previous decade.

Industry leaders strive for improvement through upgrades in factory machinery and manufacturing techniques. One example of these efforts is the implementation of actuators in valve operation.

How Do Valves Work With Actuators?

Valves are responsible for controlling the amount of air or fluid that is directed into various parts of the machine. Although valves can be opened and closed manually, there are benefits to using automated solutions.

Actuators can be programmed, decreasing the risk of human error. In emergency situations, they can automatically revert to an open or closed position, depending on which is safest for that particular machine. Not only does this neutralize a dangerous situation automatically, but it removes a human worker from a potentially threatening position.

There are many different applications for actuators in the manufacturing and industrial space. Many factories are switching from pneumatic rotary actuators to electric actuators, because electric models tend to be more reliable and require less maintenance. Electric actuators also operate with greater accuracy.

Why Do Actuators Increase Productivity?

Production lines are often precise processes that rely on a narrow margin of error. When one stage of the operation breaks down, the entire workflow breaks down. Lost time means smaller manufacturing yields and less profitability; this can put a factory way behind schedule and cause it to fail to meet demands on time.

Actuators have the ability to automate valve operation, resulting in fewer human errors. A facility that can operate for more hours throughout the day has the potential to produce greater volumes of goods. Larger manufacturing operations help contribute to the U.S.’s GNP, which ultimately helps the economic forecasts.

How Can You Help Improve the Numbers? The use of industrial actuators for boilers is most common in the metal manufacturing sector. Often a more compact rotary actuator is required when dealing with manufacturing equipment. Conversion to electric actuators can do the same job of its counterparts with added benefits to the environment. To start the process of upgrading your own factory equipment, reach out to a valve actuator manufacturer that has a good engineering team to help configure a solution for your application.

Control Valves Work on Precision Timing and Repeatability

Valve actuators are one of the most important parts of any mechanical system. In industries that rely on accuracy and streamlined processes, you can’t afford to have a control valve that malfunctions. When the flow of fluids or gases within your mechanical system is unreliable, it costs you more in reduced quality, equipment repairs and even down time when vales or actuators fail to function. So what makes one industrial actuator superior to another? Whether you’re processing gasoline or filtering wastewater, it’s imperative to invest in reliable technology for your control loop. Reduce Risk Through Improved Timing

Regardless of what fluid you are dealing with, it’s imperative that you be able to accurately control the flow rate and regulate the variables that determine mechanical efficiencies and service consistency. A faulty actuator may not manage the ratio of the fluids with the precision you require, so you need to ensure you’re achieving top-notch process control for valves. Valve timing is one of the most important yet often overlooked functions to look out for. Why? The timing function controls the following outcomes:

• Set point controls the valve lift event

• Ratio of various fluids allowed into your tanks

• Overload and overheating probability is minimized

All of these functions are dependent upon your control valve actuators’ ability to achieve accurate timing at each and every valve lift event.

Why Repeatability Matters     

When a scientist achieves a particular outcome in the process of an experiment, it is all but worthless if that outcome cannot be replicated. The same is true of actuators for valves. If a globe valve only produces results intermittently, your process will suffer. Time is of the essence in an industrial environment, so you should seek globe valves with precision metrics down to the millisecond. Valves with a high repeatability rate won’t be compromised by continual operation throughout the day—whether it’s constant or varying. Any valve with a limited duty cycle,  is prone to overheating that can cause errors and delays.

Choosing the Right Globe Valve Actuator

Some globe valve actuators are higher quality than others. There are also several types to choose from—pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, and spring. No matter what kind your line of work requires, investing in an actuator manufactured with quality is worth investing in. The quality of your mechanical systems depends upon a reliable flow through fluid gateways. Find an actuator for globe valves that produces reliable repeatability and precision timing for optimal results and minimal downtime in your fluid management process.

Partner with a supplier who can provide you with all of the valve and actuator parts that your control loop requires. Process control for valves is one of the most important aspects for your plant’s productivity. This is not an area you can skimp on without sacrificing quality.

What is an Actuator? And What Kind Do I Need?

Shopping for the right components for your automatic control processes means weighing the needs of the system in terms of performance against both the costs and the timing demands necessary to produce it to order. This means that when you are designing those systems, you need actuators with the precision to meet your quality control specifications and the speed to keep your entire system in balance.

What is an actuator? It’s the part of the system that executes, or actuates, the command from the control to perform a mechanical action. There are several kinds, and they are involved in everything from automated manufacturing processes to boiler control for power plants and heating systems, wastewater treatment, and many more applications.

Flow Control Valve Actuators

Fluid control systems allow for everything from the treatment of a city’s water and wastewater to the regulation of building heating systems and even the power plants that run entire cities. To do this, they depend on flow control valves and the actuators that control them. The rise of automated systems across industries has led to growth projections in the demand for actuators that see expansion clear to 2023.

Finding the Right Actuators

What is an actuator good for if it is less reliable than having a manual operator? This is the limiting factor in many processes that prevent their automation. If you’re looking for an actuator manufacturer in the USAwhose product offers a level of speed and precision unmatched by other models, you need an actuator that performs consistently.

• Responsive

• Precise

• Instantaneously responds to control systems

That way, you’re going to be able to deliver a consistent performance throughout the fluid control system you’re designing or updating. It’s also important to remember the shipping costs and times associated with suppliers. If you’re in the USA, it’s a good idea to find an electric actuator manufacturer in the USA.

Learn More About Actuator Options

All industry analysis points to the continued rise of automation in many industrial processes, from the extraction of resources to the production of energy and manufactured goods. It contains costs, increases output, and allows businesses to do more with the same resources. That is driving a push to automate more and more industries.

You should consider working with the kind of supplier who constantly asks the right questions and then delivers answers that have the best, most relevant and well thought-out solutions for your infrastructure. Harold Beck and Sons has been making flow control valve actuators for a variety of applications since 1936 and continues to improve upon an already strong product line.

Figuring Out Which Actuator is Right for Our Needs

An actuator is designed to control the flow of liquids, gases, steam through a mechanical system. The actuator device more often than not receives a control signal electronically that instructs a motor to power the valve or damper system to open, close or partially move based upon the flow control needs of that mechanical system. There is a great answer to the question “What is an Actuator” here on this page. In industrial applications such as petroleum processing, building mechanical systems, metal manufacturing and even the creation of electricity in power plants, the systems involved are very different and the actuator types can vary greatly.

Flow Control Valve Actuators

Automated systems require a variety of process changes to build products, from assembly and fabrication actions like gluing parts together or drilling holes in them to fluid control systems that blend ingredients in chemical processes. They act by controlling the rate of flow through valves in the system, introducing raw materials at the right speed to move them through the rest of the manufacturing process. Actuators use a variety of methods, including electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic action. They ensure raw materials do not enter pressure and temperature-controlled parts of their treatment process in ways that disrupt the necessary chemical reactions. They also provide the control necessary for activities like bottling.

Finding the Right Actuators

An actuator needs to be more reliable than humans and built to withstand repetitious movements, often during harsh environments. Automating monotonous tasks like opening and closing of valves has been around since the industrial revolution. When looking for an actuator manufacturer in the USA whose product offers a level of speed and precision unmatched by other models, you need to look hard at the manufactures quality manufacturing  processes and commitment to excellence. An actuator needs to perform consistently for years to come. It should be:

• Responsive

• Precise

• Instantaneously responds to control systems

Learn More About Actuator Options

All industry analysis points to the continued rise of automation in manufacturing. It contains costs, increases output, and allows businesses to do more with the same resources. In the end, it looks almost certain that companies who don’t resolve to build automatic systems as they become available for new procedures will be outpaced by the competition. Your supplier should have a knowledgeable engineering team that can answer your tough questions and an online resource library of flow control valve actuators, diagrams and answers to commonly asked questions.

Not only do top electric actuator manufacturers constantly offer new products to meet the changing needs of the industries they serve, they should also of a rapid response actuator repair service that can step up in case of emergencies. There can big dollars at stake when an actuator fails.