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Burkert valve control heads eliminate air bleed

A Burkert Fluid Control Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 2, 2009

Burkert Fluid Control Systems has developed three ranges of valve control heads for use in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

The 1066, 8631 and 8692 ranges of units provide a decentralised method of opening and closing process valves automatically, eliminating the need for the wasteful venting of control air normally associated with pneumatic tubing between the process valve and its related control solenoid valve.

Burkert’s types 1066, 8631 and 8692 valve control heads provide a decentralised method of opening and closing process valves automatically

Burkert’s types 1066, 8631 and 8692 valve control heads provide a decentralised method of opening and closing process valves automatically

The control heads integrate electrical and pneumatic control components as well as position feedback units and, optionally, an ATEX-approved version or Fieldbus interfaces for AS-Interface or Devicenet.

They are mounted directly above the valve body and, because there is little or no distance between the actuator and the valve that it is piloting, there is no air bleed; it is sealed.

With this system, the pressure feed goes directly into the valve head and the control signal is supplied either from a local closed-loop control sensor or switch or from a PLC/machine controller via a control bus - AS-Interface or Devicenet - or multi-pole (parallel) directly into the valve.

Similarly, adopting digital positioners with integral solenoid valve control heads for regulating modulating process-control valves will automatically lead to air savings, as these will normally ensure zero-air use in their stable state.

In the traditional technique of process valve positioners - incorporating pneumatic flapper-nozzle systems - air is being bled constantly, even when the valve is at rest.

This can average the equivalent of 0.75kW (1hp) in compressed air for every 10-20 valves in operation; a large process site can, therefore, use a vast amount of energy unnecessarily, according to the company.

The option of an embedded PID process controller, working in conjunction with the positioner, provides a fast-acting, decentralised control loop in combination with the associated process sensor.

This arrangement also reduces complexity and saves unnecessary components and wiring.

The problem of wastage - rather than energy reduction - can be improved by the accurate monitoring of process fluids, using pH and conductivity measurement techniques, as provided by Burkert's 8201 and 8221 units.

With probes made to high standards of surface finish and with the use of glass-free, food-quality materials, process lines can now be measured and controlled during all phases of production and cleaning.

An example of this is the enamel-based pH electrode on the 8201pH sensor, which is able to stay in process even during CIP purification.

Burkert claims that the 'fit-and-forget' design of the 8201 pH measuring system saves users time and costs by removing the requirement for sensor withdrawal, cleaning and recalibration.

The non-breakable sensor also obviates the problems of fracture with glass sensors; its enamelled stainless-steel finish provides high levels of non-stick performance for maximised hygiene while pH values are measured.

In common with the 8201, Burkert's 8221 conductivity sensor is also designed for CIP, even during steam sterilisation.

This feature allows the sensor to provide the time- and cost-saving benefits of phase detection across all transmitted mediums, including aggressive cleaning agents.

It is also claimed to guarantee transparency of the process at all times and protection for the user against expensive errors in respect of which fluids are being conveyed.

The ability of the 8201 and 8221 units to stay in place over long periods means that requirements for recalibration become infrequent, decreasing manual intervention and downtime.

Additionally, there is the extra assurance that wastage through process uncertainty or incorrect operator actions may become obsolete.

Combining these types of sensors with a transmitter incorporating data-logging hardware and software delivers good performance and product assurance, according to the company.

Find out more about this article. Request a brochure, download technical specifications and request samples here.
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