Beck Group 29 Linear Valve Actuators

[jives]

Looking for some feedback / reviews of Beck Group 29 Linear Valve Actuators for modulating control (globe) valve service.

I am considering these for installation on power plant Desuperheater spray flow control valves, to replace existing Limitorque actuators.

I am also looking at using piston actuators, but the Beck Group 29 actuators look like a good option.

Thanks

Jonathan Ives
Project Engineer
Transalta, Alberta Thermal Plants
Duffield, Alberta

 

[gerhardl]

There is always a lot of questions needed to be raised and answered when you refit a control valve with another brand (and type?) of actuator.

In your application I believe that the application is one of the critical operations in the process.

With refitting the valve you are actually setting in operation a 'new' product, untested (?) for the application.

What is the reason for the change?

Price? If yes, I belive the saved cost do not meet the increased risk.

Unsatisfactory performance and/or lifetime? If yes: Both valve and actuator recommende to be changed together and tested together before installation. (An unsatisfactory actuator indicates possible trouble also with the valve)

Thermal plants need high-quality top performing components. To save here will cost in production performance and unnecessary productions stop and service.

Please do not misunderstand: there should always be room for sensible improvements, you could have reasons here I do not see.

 

[rmw]

The Beck actuator will give you good service if you can live with the operating speed. They are notorious for being slow, even slower than most other electrics.

Their syncronous motor is a real beast for constant modulation without overheating. I suspect that they are a class or two above the "starts per hour" rating of the Limitorque (something I never would have put in a constantly modulating application.)

If you get any bad comments on a Beck, (other than slow speed and price) I'll be surprised. They make a rugged device and are well thought of especially in the electric utility industry.

I'd use a Beck in a heartbeat and am working on a project where if I had kept electric actuation, I would have switched to Beck. Sorry, but in this case I changed to pneumatics for speed reasons, of course. When it is an obvious electric actuator application however, make mine a Beck.

rmw

 

[gerhardl]

Hi Jives, rmv,

Beck beeing fairly unknown in Europe, I googled the name and had a look at the homepage. Seems to be a specialised company with solid products, and might be an upgrade from existing actuator.

On the other hand: In my experience 'problems' with actuators is often not the electrical actuator itself, but the control of the operating cycle.

Fairly often programmers not familiar with the actual adjusting needs in the continual process create programs without 'damping'.

Misplaced instruments or too 'fine reacting' instruments could also contribute to make the actuator and valve regulate far too fine and often.

The result is unnecessary wear and shortened lifetime both for valve and actuator. I have actually seen large-diameter regulating valves with wearmarks a millimeter or two along moving axis, (and this on special SS against soft sealings) where the stroke is about 100times longer.

In this regard it could be positive to have a slow-moving actuator. In addition: to be sure the actuator and valve is 'damped' sufficiently you should check behaviour directly at site during operation and if necessary adjust parameters.

Good luck!