Commissioning the ROTORK CK Range Valve Actuators

The Rotork CK actuator range has been designed to meet the needs of diverse actuation applications required by the valve industry and its customers. The modular design concept enables quick product configuration from stock to customer specification with a very short lead time. 

The CK range provides the customer with a range of options to suit all of their actuation requirements. Rotork CK actuators are designed for minimum user interaction. Their primary goal is to provide safe and reliable actuation in harsh environments. 

The modular CK product range offers simple, robust actuators (CK/CKr) suited to harsh environments with the option for two different control packages (Atronik and Centronik) to meet exact site requirements. Atronik offers modest control and feedback for a simple integrated starter solution. Centronik offers advanced control and feedback for more complex site system integration and increased flexibility through remote mounting. 

For questions about all ROTORK products in Northern California and Nevada, contact CTi Controltech.

https://cti-ct.com
925-208-4250

Reversing the Fail Action and Air Action on the Flowserve Valtek VL Actuator

The Flowserve Valtek VL series spring cylinder linear actuators are powerful, compact, high-performance pneumatic actuators that provide solid throttling or on-off operation for automatic control valves. The positioner supplies air to both sides of the piston, providing stiff, precise movement and high-frequency response and quick stroke speeds.

The VL series is the standard set of actuators for Valtek control valves, providing precise control and reliable performance. Providing maximum thrust from a compact lightweight package, the VL cylinder has set the industry standard for two generations.

For more information about Flowserve Valtek products, contact CTi Controltech by calling 925-208-4250 of by visiting https://cti-ct.com.

Flowserve Valve, Actuation and Instrumentation Portfolio

The Flowserve valve, actuation and instrumentation portfolio includes world-class quarter-turn, rotary, linear, control and special configuration valves. Additionally, Flowserve also offers precision actuation and instrumentation for every application, from remotely controlled, fully automated electric, hydraulic and pneumatic actuators to electronic positioners and level switches . Fail-safe isolation, on-off modulation and precision process control ensure efficient and reliable operation, even in the most hazardous environments.

Flowserve valve and actuator products deliver industry-leading performance and reliability, with embedded technologies that make them easy for operators to use and maintain. By coupling their control solutions with real-time system analysis, predictive maintenance and remote service capabilities, today's manufacturing plants get end-to-end intelligence that maximizes their uptime.

View the embedded document below, or download your copy of the Flowserve Valve, Actuation and Instrumentation Portfolio here.

CTi Controltech
https://cti-ct.com
925-208-4250

Flowserve Valve, Actuation and Instrumentation Portfolio from CTi Controltech

Scotch Yoke Valve Actuators

Scotch Yoke Pneumatic Valve Actuator
Courtesy Flowserve - Automax

A Scotch yoke is a mechanical linkage arrangement that converts linear motion into rotational motion. A common usage of the mechanism found in modern industry is valve actuators for quarter turn valves with high torque requirements. These applications would emerge most frequently in chemical and oil and gas industrial installations.

Quarter turn valves, such and ball, plug, or butterfly valves, only require a 90 degree rotation from their fully closed to fully open positions. In this case, the Scotch yoke is not used to produce continuous rotating motion, as it may in some engine applications. For the valve actuation case, the Scotch yoke functions much like a hand on a lever. The pneumatic variants use air pressure to drive the slider in one direction until a preset stop position is reached. Usually, a spring provides a counterforce that will drive the valve to a desired fail-safe stop position in the absence of air pressure. Other combinations of driving force and fail-safe operation are available to suit differing application needs.

Diagrammatic representation of Scotch yoke valve actuator
Illustration excerpted from Automax RG Standard Pneumatic Valve Actuator IOM 
with text added

The drive assembly consists essentially of a slider, a pin, and the yoke. The slider is moved laterally by whatever power sources are appropriate for the unit (pneumatic, hydraulic, spring, hand wheel, etc.). The pin is affixed to the slider and extends through a slot in the yoke. One end of the yoke is mounted to the valve shaft. As the slider is driven through is range of motion, the pin moves with the slider and forces movement of the yoke. This movement of the yoke translates into rotational force on the valve shaft and the repositioning of the valve trim.

Selecting and configuring the right actuator and valve for any application benefits from consultation and cooperation among the process engineers and valve automation specialists. Share your process valve and automation challenges with experienced professionals, combining your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to produce an effective solution.

Electro-hydraulic Valve Actuators Applied at Tank Farm

Electro-hydraulic valve actuators
Rotork Skilmatic

Rotork is a global leader in the design and manufacture of valve and damper actuators for industrial applications. The company's Skilmatic line of electro-hydraulic actuators is designed to provide a solution for modulating control and electric failsafe operation in rotary and linear designs. The company has created an animated video illustrating how the actuators can be deployed on control valves in a tank storage application. The presentation provides good detail of the inner workings of the actuator, along with the actuator control unit display. The video is short, but very informative.

Share your valve and automation requirements and challenges with application experts. A combination of your process and facility knowledge and their product application expertise will produce effective solutions.

Electric Valve Actuator - Inner Workings

IQ3 Electric Actuator
Rotork

Rotork's IQ3 electric actuator is one of the most advanced and full featured valve actuators available today. The IQ3 incorporates many innovative features which expand its functionality, making it an advantageous choice for many industrial applications. In just the latest generation, a number of new features have been incorporated (from Rotork website).

• New intuitive user interface
• Advanced dual stacked display with configurable datalogger functionality
• Toughened glass screen plus optional environmental shield
• Setting tool with secured Bluetooth® connection
• High reliability, solid-state controls (multi-turn variants)
• Reduced internal wiring and connections
• Simplified torque sensor (multi-turn variants)
• Simple and robust absolute position sensor with high reliability and accuracy
• New thrust base design (multi-turn variants)
• Separable gearbox/thrust base across the range (multi-turn variants)
• Advanced real-time status reporting

The video below provides a display of the parts assembly of an IQ3 actuator. The mechanically inclined should find it interesting. You can get more detail on the IQ3 series of actuators for every application from a product specialist. Share your valve and actuator challenges with experts and get the best available solutions.

Power Source for Hydraulic Valves and Dampers

Self contained hydraulic power unit
Rotork

A range of fluid processing and other flow control operations employ hydraulically actuated valves or dampers. Hydraulic actuators use a pressurized incompressible liquid as the motive force to drive the actuator mechanism. They are generally capable of operating large loads at higher speeds than electric actuators, and a smaller size than similarly capable pneumatic actuators. They are not subject to limited run times, power loss, or air line freezing.

A power unit is required to provide adequate hydraulic fluid and pressure for each application. A single unit can service more than one actuator or damper.

Rotork, a globally recognized manufacturer of valve actuators, also provides self contained hydraulic power units specifically tailored to applications involving valve and damper actuators. With fluid capacities up to 7,500 liters (2,000 gallons) and operating pressures up to 345 bar (5,000 psi), the skid mounted units are suitable for a wide range of applications. Each system is customized to accommodate the requirements of the intended application.

Share your fluid control and valve actuation challenges with product specialists, combining your process and project knowledge with their product application expertise for effective solutions.

Rotork Fluid Systems Hydraulic Unit from CTi Controltech

Valve Actuator Video - Rotork IQ3 Absolute Encoder and Battery

One of several variants of the IQ3 Actuator
Courtesy Rotork

Industrial valve actuators are available in an uncountable range of types, styles, power ranges, and feature sets to meet the needs of industrial processes everywhere. Some applications have a requirement for the control and decision making equipment or personnel to know the valve position at all times, including when operating power may be interrupted. This scenario calls for an absolute encoder with a battery backup.

An absolute encoder assigns a unique identifier to every possible shaft position, so any reading of the encoder value will indicate the current shaft position. These devices have historically been rather complex, but Rotork has developed a radically simplified approach that provides good operability while extending the useful life of the mechanism.

The short video below illustrates the primary features of the system. More information is available from product application specialists. Share your valve actuation challenges with them, combining your process expertise with their product knowledge for the best process control solutions.

Hydraulic Actuator Specially Designed for Most Demanding Industrial Applications

Chemical Processing Plant

CTI Controltech now represents MEA, Inc, manufacturer of  hydraulic actuators and control systems.

MEA Inc has been designing and building custom hydraulic control and actuator solutions for 50 years. The company provides control systems and actuation solutions across several industrial sectors, including: in refining with FCCU Slide Valves, Coker Switch Valves, Wet Gas Compressors, MOV Gate Valves and Furnace Controls; in utilities with Boiler Fan Damper Actuators, Turbine Steam Emission Valves, Feed Water Control Valves and Turbine Bypass Valves; and in Steel Production with Edge Guide and Center Guide Systems. 

Specializing in hydraulic actuator systems, the company's integrated teams can build to any requirement and deliver a robust and reliable solution designed for decades of operation. MEA provides lifecycle support for its products, with innovative service solutions facilitating ease of use and dependability of your critical equipment. A global footprint affords the company agility and experience that is always close to customer locations.

The video included below provides an operational overview of MEA's Eagle hydraulic actuator system. Request more information from the valve actuation and control specialists at CTI Controltech. Share your process control challenges with them and combine your process knowledge with their product application expertise to develop the best solutions.

Specialized Valve Actuation Systems Safeguard Critical Flow Processes

Eagle Series Redundant Hydraulic Actuator
Control Unit
Courtesy MEA

Some industrial process applications are so demanding or specialized that custom, or semi-custom, products are needed to meet requirements for safety and performance that are beyond the realm of familiar product offerings. The requirements may involve the size, capacity, or particular arrangement of a component. Also, levels of risk aversion, safety, and redundancy may be a major factor in the performance requirements of a critical control element or equipment unit.

Some industries employ processes that involve the large scale control of energy. Keeping that energy under control and directed toward process completion is key to maintaining operational, financial, and safety goals. When the energy is associated with a fluid, valves of various types are employed to properly regulate and direct its flow. The control element for a valve is the actuator, which itself is driven by a controller, and all of which must together be capable of positioning the valve trim under all possible operating conditions.

 MEA is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of valve actuation systems safeguarding critical flow processes that include...

• FCCU (Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit) Slide Valves
• Coker Switch Valves
• Boiler and Furnace Damper Drives
• Butterfly Valves
• Plug Valves
• Blower and Compressor Surge Controls
• Wet Gas Compressor Controls
• Oil Flow Control Valves

The company's most recently developed systems effectively eliminate unplanned shut downs by providing digitally controlled redundant actuators with 100% reliability and continuous control over connected valve actuators. MEA systems are easily integrated into existing networks and provide multiple levels of security and diagnostics.

MEA provides control systems and actuation solutions across several industrial sectors, including:

• Refining
• Utilities
• Steel Production

Provided below is a general overview outlining engineering and manufacturing capabilities. A brief description of the product line is included, too. Browse the document and become familiar with MEA. Share your fluid control challenges with a product application specialist. Combining your process knowledge with their product and application expertise will deliver the best solutions.

MEA, Inc. Company & Product Overview from CTi Controltech

Drop-In Replacement Damper Drives for Boilers and Other Combustion Operations

Pedestal mount damper drive, PM Series
Courtesy Rotork

Damper drives are specialty actuators that position air and flue gas dampers on combustion based systems in industrial settings. They can be linear or rotary to meet certain application requirements. The damper positioning is a process control function that is used to increase efficiency, reduce maintenance, control harmful emissions, and lower fuel consumption.

With a very large base of legacy damper drives of the rotary type already installed throughout commercial and industrial markets, there is a need for drop-in replacements for older drives that are worn or not able to provide the level of performance accuracy needed to meet modern operating demands. Rotork, globally recognized manufacturer of valve and damper actuators, has developed a product series within their damper drive line that specifically addresses the drop-in replacement of legacy damper drives.

Rotork's PM and DM Series drives, a portion of the company's Type K Damper Drive line, provide rotary operation in the 30 to 100 degree range and are available as pedestal mount or direct mount versions. As a subset of this broad offering, the company has crafted the FasTrak Series, which are preconfigured as ready-made units to replace common, older legacy damper drives. Twelve models cover the most commonly occurring pneumatic or electric damper drive replacements. The manufacturer states that the FasTrak drives will:

• Bolt to the floor where the old drive was mounted
• The existing link rod and clevis will attach to the FasTraK drive lever
• Simply verify envelope dimensions to assure that there are no external obstructions

A product catalog describing the full line of Type K drive is provided below. Share your combustion application challenges with a product specialist and work together to find the best solutions.

Type K Linear and Rotary Damper Actuators - Rotork from CTi Controltech