Control Valve Accessories

Sep, 30th 2010

 Positioner
1. The positioner is a high gin plain propotional
controller which measures the valve stem
position (to within 0.1 mm), compares that
measurement to its set-point and if there is a
difference correct the error
2. The open loop gain of positioners ranges from
10 to 200 (proportional band of 10% to 0.5%)
and their periods of oscillation range between
0.3 and 10 seconds (3-0.1 Hz)
3. In the other words, the positioner is a very
sensitively tuned proportional-only controller
 Positioner (2)
1. The main purpose of having a positioner is to
guarantee that valve does move to the position
where the controller wants it to be
2. By adding positoner, one can correct for many
variations, including changes in packing friction
due to dirt, corrosion, or lack of lubrication
3. The dead band of a valve-actuator can be as
much 5% with the addition of a positioner it can
be reduced to less than 0.5%
 Positioner Characteristic
• When the valve is in remote manual (open loop)
operation, it is always benefit from the addition
of a positioner, because it will reduce the valve’s
hysteresis and dead band when increasing its
response
• When the valve is under automatic (closed loop)
control, the positioner will be helpful when the
loop response is not very fast
• Actuator without springs always require
positioners
 Positioner Characteristic (2)
• A controlled process can be considered “slow”
if its period of oscillation is three times the
period at which the positioned valve oscillates
 Limit Switches
• To describe switches installed to signal when a
valve is at or beyond a predetermined position
• These switches are used for operator
information, interlock inputs, or computer
feedback
• It’s necessary to consider mounting problems,
electrical classification of area, electrical
characteristics of circuit, over-travel of
actuating and corrosive nature of the area
 Limit Switches (2)
• Becaused of enviromental problems, some
users have been using sealed magnetically
actuated or proximity switches
 Regulator or Airset
• Is the air regulator with filter and drip out used to
supply air to the positioner or other instrumeny
• The regulator must have an appropriate pressure
range for the positioner and actuator and it
should have a built-in overpressure vent
• Capacity is a problem only with very large valves
• Some piston actuators and positioners will
operate with up to 150 psig (1MPa) supply and
there is a trend toward eliminating the regulator
but retaining the filter
 Regulator or Airset (2)
• The risk in providing airsets for high-pressure actuators
such as air cylinders is that field operator can thereby limit
the supply pressure, which in turn reduces actuator
stiffness (resistance to the dynamic forces of the process)
• Naturally, when the pressure rating of the actuator or
positioner is less than the air supply pressure, an air set
must be used
• The use of air filters is always recommended
• They should be installed in the air supply serving the
positioner and should be designed for the pressure of the
air supply
• Their purpose is to remove moisture, oil and all particles
that are 5 microns or larger
 Solenoid
• Control valve accessory is used to operate on/off
pneumatic actuator or interrupt the action of
modulating valves by switching air pressures
• Two philosophies are in common use
– The 3 to 15 Psi (0.2-1 bar) signal to the positioner is
blocked and the downstream tubing either vented or
connected to some other preset pressure
– Its installed in the tubing between the positioner and
actuator
Thx