Process industry engineers are looking to more sophisticated motion control solutions for valve automation because of an ever-growing need to improve productivity, increase efficiency, and minimize downtime.
These engineers must control the valves that regulate the flow of materials throughout a facility, and there are two basic ways to control these valves: linear motion (rising stem) and rotary motion (half turn or quarter turn). Powered rising stem valves are often used in mission-critical areas of a process. In these applications, reliability, repeatability, accuracy, and responsiveness are crucially important. These factors impact the type of valve actuation specified. There are traditional methods: pneumatic or hydraulic actuated systems and electric linear actuators driven by brush servo motors. Then there’s an emerging technology: brushless servo motor driven electric valve actuators.