Valve positioning tools are now seen as the panacea for all issues. Adding a positioner can have adverse effects in particular control circuits. These tools are advantageous in sluggish systems but can be detrimental in control loops with fast reset times. When the quantity and mass of the liquids handled are high relative to the process action, a maintenance supervisor should also be taken into account for relatively sluggish systems like mixing/separation, level control, and temperature control. The best course of action is to guarantee that the valve operates appropriately without needing a valve positioning tool by adequately sizing the valve actuator and spring. In a typical system, the actuator moves the valve by receiving a signal from the process controller and acting on it. This system functions, although it can be sluggish because actuators always have an offset, limiting their accuracy to a given range.
More is required to enable quick, precise answers when changes are regularly made, or accuracy is necessary. A valve fitting equipment is that extra item that acts as an interface. It provides the valve stem and communicates with the motor and process controller to determine the precise position of the valve. The valve fitting tool gives the actuator a signal to move the valve, which gets an input signal from the process controller. The device that moves a valve open and shut is known as an actuator. An actuator can be placed to provide remote control of the valve rather than manual adjustment.
Valves positioners are only necessary for some applications. However, these tools have their uses, particularly in systems where alterations can severely affect output or quality:
- Greater control accuracy: Valve fitters offer more accurate control than actuators since they know the valve’s exact position. They also increase accuracy in the bottom portion of the valve stroke, where hiccups are most frequent.
- Time-saving: Reduce the time the system runs above or below the setpoint by using a valve positioner to increase the pace of valve operations. The positioning tool adjusts the valve position using increased pressure and more airflow.
- Functionalities and setups that are more versatile: One can employ controlled actuators and create a space between the controller and the valve. And can also vary the flow characteristics or alternate between forward and inverse control action as needed. Even one regulator can control two valves.
When achieving the most fantastic control with the least amount of overshoot, the quickest reaction time is required in systems with lengthy pneumatic signal lines between the actuator and regulator. It would be preferable to employ electrical analogue or DSP transmission in this situation.
Summing Up
The valve fluid system can be simplified with the help of valve positioning tools. True to their name, in the simplest terms, valve fitting is a tool that ensures the valve is in the proper operating position under the regulated signal. The valve must adjust to the changing circumstances when the fluid system is modified. With a positioner in place, the valve will correct itself depending on mechanical energy from the controller and valve stem.
The value that may derive from positioning tools relies on the application and system setup; they are only some advantages. To discover how positioning devices kept one oil company’s system operating optimally.