hoangvantan
Chemical
Can I convert the manual ball valve to SDV by simply fit the actuator & all acessories? The valve body and the actuator has to same manufacturer or can be different ones?
Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet
Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals
-
Congratulations waross on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
Convert maunal ball valve to Automatic Shutdown Valve
- Thread starter hoangvantan
- Start date
- Status
There are a lot of ways to accomplish this. Many actuator manufacturers have adapters that permit them to mount on a whole range of valves. However, these are not universal, so I'd do some checking before actually buying a component. I believe that there are companies specializing in retro-fit actuators.
I haven't seen ball valves used as shutoff valves w/actuators attached, but after thinking about it, yes, you can. As long as the actuator is set to stroke the ball 90°, I think your plan would be entirely possible. If you have success, please repost...
We commonly buy ball valves with double-actuating air actuators and solenoids. These are susally for valve in the plant that are not accessible and we locate a hand-operated station close to grade or a platform.
We usually order them together, and the valve supplier ships thenm to an instrument supplier to install the actuators prior to coming to us.
We usually order them together, and the valve supplier ships thenm to an instrument supplier to install the actuators prior to coming to us.
This is not a problem.
You will need to collate the following information:
1. The Valve Opening Torque, Closing Torque and Running Torque between Open and Close.
2. Maximum Stem Shear Torque - so that the Actuator won't over stress the Stem!
3. Torque Safety Factor - applied to the Valve torque. This ensures the actuator will be capable of operating the valve in long stand still torque conditions. If you don't have a safety factor figure in mind the actuator manufacturer will add 25 to 30% to the valve torques.
4. Operating mode - Hydraulic, Pneumatic or Electric and then Spring return (fail close or Open when power is lost) or Double Acting.
5. Contact the original valve manufacturer and ask them for a "topworks" drawing of the valve stem and mounting flange. The actuator manufacturer will need this to supply a mounting bracket.
This should be enough info to obtain a quotation for an actuator.
You will need to collate the following information:
1. The Valve Opening Torque, Closing Torque and Running Torque between Open and Close.
2. Maximum Stem Shear Torque - so that the Actuator won't over stress the Stem!
3. Torque Safety Factor - applied to the Valve torque. This ensures the actuator will be capable of operating the valve in long stand still torque conditions. If you don't have a safety factor figure in mind the actuator manufacturer will add 25 to 30% to the valve torques.
4. Operating mode - Hydraulic, Pneumatic or Electric and then Spring return (fail close or Open when power is lost) or Double Acting.
5. Contact the original valve manufacturer and ask them for a "topworks" drawing of the valve stem and mounting flange. The actuator manufacturer will need this to supply a mounting bracket.
This should be enough info to obtain a quotation for an actuator.
Perhaps I do not understand the meaning of automatic shutdown valve...
But if you are expecting this valve to automatically shut down on an emergency situation, e.g. a plant trip that requires a fast isolation of the system you have to make sure that the supplied actuator is springloaded to the closed position when the actuator is de-energized (no power, pressure, any energy applied).
This also opens another can of worms... can your system withstand a sudden valve shut-off? i.e. what about transients, pressure surges, water-hammer effect etc...
If emergency shutdown is not an issue... then the actuator can be slow opening and closing...but I would spec it out with limit switches to detect open closed positions as well as torque limit, but seems like this has been thoroughly covered before.
HTH
Saludos.
a.
But if you are expecting this valve to automatically shut down on an emergency situation, e.g. a plant trip that requires a fast isolation of the system you have to make sure that the supplied actuator is springloaded to the closed position when the actuator is de-energized (no power, pressure, any energy applied).
This also opens another can of worms... can your system withstand a sudden valve shut-off? i.e. what about transients, pressure surges, water-hammer effect etc...
If emergency shutdown is not an issue... then the actuator can be slow opening and closing...but I would spec it out with limit switches to detect open closed positions as well as torque limit, but seems like this has been thoroughly covered before.
HTH
Saludos.
a.
If you know the valve pipe size and the valve manufacturer you can probably get a retrofit actuator/linkage assembly, it depends on the valve construction.
Try either Delta Control Products in Phoenix or Belimo at Just let them know whether or not you need spring return (fail safe) and the control voltage/signal you need for your application.
Warning, retrofits are risky and troublesome and if the bracketry is wrong you won't be able to return it. I would recommend replacing the valve entirely. It will probably save you money/headaches in the long run.
Try either Delta Control Products in Phoenix or Belimo at Just let them know whether or not you need spring return (fail safe) and the control voltage/signal you need for your application.
Warning, retrofits are risky and troublesome and if the bracketry is wrong you won't be able to return it. I would recommend replacing the valve entirely. It will probably save you money/headaches in the long run.
Simple Answer : YES
There is an ISO standard for topwork mounting (5502 I think)- that most reputable manufacturers adhere to for the mounting of gearboxes and actuators.
Any reputable actuator manufacturer will be able to assist.
Try this site : Use of Ball valves as SDV's are common. Just be sure that the valve is of a robust design for the appplication intended.
Hope this helps
There is an ISO standard for topwork mounting (5502 I think)- that most reputable manufacturers adhere to for the mounting of gearboxes and actuators.
Any reputable actuator manufacturer will be able to assist.
Try this site : Use of Ball valves as SDV's are common. Just be sure that the valve is of a robust design for the appplication intended.
Hope this helps
- Status
