Mitigating Water Hammer in Municipal Water Systems: The Value and Unique Design of Kinetrol's Steadyline Actuators

Water hammer, or hydraulic shock, is a significant challenge in municipal water treatment systems. This phenomenon occurs when a sudden change in water flow velocity—often due to rapid valve closure—creates a pressure surge or shock wave within the pipeline. Depending on pipe material and water temperature, these surges can travel at speeds up to 1,400 meters per second, potentially causing severe damage to infrastructure, disrupting water supply, and compromising water quality.

Fast-closing valves are the primary instigators of water hammer events. An abrupt valve closure instantaneously halts the momentum of flowing water, leading to a pressure spike that can exceed the pipeline's design limits. This can result in burst pipes, damaged fittings, and failed valves, necessitating costly repairs and posing risks to public safety. 

Rotary hydraulic dampers, commonly referred to as dashpots, are silicone filled, vacuum sealed devices, expertly designed to regulate the velocity and smoothness of rotational movements.

Kinetrol's Steadyline actuators offer an innovative solution by combining a standard Kinetrol rotary actuator with an attached rotary dashpot to govern the valve's closing speed. This design leverages the reliability and performance of Kinetrol's established rotary actuators while integrating a specialized dashpot mechanism that precisely controls the actuator's rotational movement during valve closure.

The Steadyline actuator's configuration involves mounting a rotary dashpot directly onto the standard actuator's output shaft. The dashpot consists of a rotor moving within a fluid-filled chamber, where the viscous fluid resists the rotor's motion. As the valve begins to close, the dashpot slows down the rotational speed by absorbing kinetic energy through fluid friction. This controlled resistance ensures the valve closes smoothly over a predetermined period, significantly reducing the risk of inducing water hammer.

Beyond preventing physical damage to the pipeline network, the controlled valve closure provided by Steadyline actuators improves operational efficiency. By mitigating water hammer, the actuators reduce stress on pipes and fittings, extending the lifespan of the entire distribution system.

Implementing Kinetrol's Steadyline actuators can lead to substantial financial savings for municipal water utilities. By preventing infrastructure damage and reducing the frequency of repairs, utilities can allocate resources more effectively and avoid unexpected expenses. 

Kinetrol's Steadyline actuators provide a valuable and practical solution to the challenges water hammers pose in municipal water treatment systems. By integrating a standard rotary actuator with an attached rotary dashpot, these actuators offer precise control over valve closing speeds without compromising reliability or ease of installation. This design not only safeguards the physical infrastructure and ensures efficient water supply system operation but also contributes to maintaining water quality and delivering financial benefits through reduced maintenance costs. For municipalities seeking to enhance the safety and sustainability of their water distribution networks, adopting Steadyline actuators represents a strategic investment in advanced engineering solutions.

Kinetrol USA
https://kinetrolusa.com
972-447-9443

Single Vane Rotary Actuators: A Compact, Efficient, and Durable Solution for Industrial Applications

A rotary pneumatic actuator with a single-vane design offers several engineering advantages: efficiency, compactness, and durability. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Efficiency

Direct Force Transfer: The single-vane design allows for a more direct transfer of pneumatic force to rotational motion. This direct force transfer reduces energy losses typically associated with more complex mechanisms, improving the actuator's overall energy efficiency.

Reduced Leakage Paths: A single vane minimizes the number of internal seals and potential leakage paths. This design reduces the likelihood of air leaks, ensuring that the pneumatic pressure is efficiently converted into mechanical work. Consequently, the actuator operates more efficiently, requiring less energy to achieve the desired output.

Simplified Control: The single-vane design simplifies control schemes. With fewer moving parts and a more straightforward kinematic chain, the actuator's response time is faster, and control systems can be more easily optimized for precision, leading to enhanced operational efficiency.

Compactness

Space-Efficient Design: The single vane occupies only one side of the actuator chamber, leaving the opposite side available for rotation. This design maximizes the use of the internal volume for creating rotational motion, resulting in a more compact overall size than multi-vane or piston-type actuators. This compactness is particularly beneficial in applications where space is limited.

Integrated Functionality: In some designs, the vane itself can be integrated with additional functions, such as a position sensor or damping mechanism. This integration further reduces the need for external components, enhancing the actuator's compact nature without sacrificing functionality.

High Torque-to-Size Ratio: The compact design of the single vane actuator allows for a high torque output relative to its size, which is advantageous in applications where high torque is required but available space is constrained.

Durability

Fewer Moving Parts: The single vane design typically has fewer moving parts than other types of rotary actuators, such as rack-and-pinion or multi-vane designs. This reduction in moving parts minimizes wear and tear, increasing durability and a longer operational lifespan.

Robust Sealing: The simplified design allows for more robust sealing around the vane and shaft, reducing the risk of seal failure over time. The enhanced sealing improves protection against contaminants and ensures the actuator maintains performance integrity under harsh operating conditions.

Balanced Load Distribution: The design inherently balances the forces on the vane during operation, reducing stress concentrations and distributing wear more evenly across the actuator's components. This balanced load distribution reduces the likelihood of premature failure and enhances the actuator's overall durability.

Resistance to External Contaminants: With fewer external interfaces and a compact form factor, the single-vane actuator is less susceptible to contamination from dust, moisture, or other environmental factors. This resistance contributes to its durability in challenging environments, such as industrial or outdoor applications.

Conclusion

The single-vane design of a rotary pneumatic actuator provides significant efficiency, compactness, and durability advantages. Its ability to deliver high torque in a compact form and its robust and efficient design make it a reliable choice for a wide range of industrial applications where space, energy efficiency, and longevity are critical factors.

Kinetrol USA
https://kinetrolusa.com
972-447-9443

Achieving Optimal Flow Control: How SteadyLine Actuators Combat Water Hammer

Water hammer poses significant risks in industrial flow control systems, causing potential damage to pipes, valves, and other components due to the sudden surge in pressure. This phenomenon occurs when valves open or close too quickly, creating a shock wave that travels through the fluid. The Kinetrol SteadyLine addresses this issue effectively by incorporating built-in dampening and adjustable opening and closing speeds.

By controlling the speed at which valves operate, the SteadyLine actuator reduces the abrupt changes in fluid velocity, thereby minimizing the pressure surges associated with water hammer. This capability ensures a smoother and more controlled flow, protecting the system from the harmful effects of sudden pressure spikes. Additionally, the built-in dampening feature further absorbs any residual shocks, providing an extra layer of protection and enhancing the longevity of the entire flow control system.

Implementing an actuator like the SteadyLine in industrial and commercial settings offers numerous advantages. It mitigates the risks associated with water hammer and contributes to the system's overall reliability and efficiency. Operators can fine-tune the actuator's performance to match the specific requirements of their application, ensuring optimal flow control and preventing damage that could lead to costly repairs or downtime. By integrating such advanced features, the SteadyLine actuator significantly enhances industrial flow control systems' safety, durability, and performance.

When reducing harmful shock or excessive motion or ensuring accurate and repeatable valve opening and closing times, Kinetrol Steadyline enhances valve stability, accuracy, and speed control.

Kinetrol Steadyline series precision valve actuators feature built-in damping devices that provide smooth resistance to actuator/valve shaft rotation, increasing with angular velocity. This product smooths out the actuator's standard travel, dampens pipeline flow-induced valve disc oscillations, and allows users to specify a minimum travel time during power failures.

For more information, contact:
Kinetrol USA
https://kinetrolusa.com
972-447-9443

Kinetrol Corrosion Protection

Kinetrol is seeing a rise in customer requests for corrosion protection that meets BS EN ISO 12944 standards, including classifications such as C3, C4, and CX.

What is BS EN ISO 12944?

BS EN ISO 12944 is the industry standard for corrosion protection of steel structures using protective paint systems. The standard's key components include environmental classification, protective paint systems, and laboratory test methods. Part 2 of the standard focuses on selecting paint finishes for various environments. These environmental classifications are what customers reference when specifying their required paint or coating finish. 

Although BS EN ISO 12944-2 does not directly apply to Kinetrol products, Kinetrol offers product specifications that provide equivalent corrosion protection.

This product application sheet details the standards and protection levels Kinetrol can provide.

Kinetrol D-Line Damped Manual Fail-Safe

Introducing the Kinetrol D-Line Damped Manual Fail-Safe, a revolutionary solution for 90-degree rotational applications that prioritizes safety, reliability, and ease of use. This innovative device features a damped spring stroke that effectively dissipates kinetic energy, allowing for safe operation even at higher spring torques. With the fail-safe spring design, you can rest assured that the valve will always return to the correct position after use, eliminating the risk of costly errors. The torque multiplier reduces the force required to operate the device and minimizes the package envelope, making it a compact and efficient choice. The lockable design prevents unauthorized use, while the adjustable dampening allows you to select the speed of the spring stroke to suit your specific needs. With a torque range from 380 in-lbs to 1265 in-lbs, the Kinetrol D-Line Damped Manual Fail-Safe is versatile enough to handle a wide variety of applications. ATEX Cat 2 is approved for hazardous environments and boasts an IP65 rating to protect against internal corrosion; this device is built to withstand even the most challenging conditions. Upgrade your valve control system with the Kinetrol D-Line Damped Manual Fail-Safe and experience unparalleled safety, reliability, and performance.

For more information, contact:
Kinetrol USA
https://kinetrolusa.com
972-447-9443

Kinetrol USA is Proudly Exhibiting at the 2024 Membrane Technology Conference & Exposition

New VDI/VDE Actuator Interface for Kinetrol Double-Acting Actuators

VDI/VDE is a standard established by the Association of German Engineers (VDI) and the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE).

In industrial valves and actuator manufacturing, VDI/VDE compliance sets the guidelines for the interface between valve actuators and external components such as positioners. It explicitly defines how manufacturers should design the mechanical and electrical connections between actuators and ancillary devices, including mounting dimensions, types of electrical connections, and communication protocols.

This standard aims to ensure compatibility and interoperability between different brands and models. Manufacturers who follow these guidelines make integrating their products into various industrial systems easier, facilitating maintenance, upgrades, and replacements, making the overall industrial processes more efficient and cost-effective.

Kinetrol is pleased to announce the availability of Double-Acting Actuators with VDI / VDE 3845 (NAMUR) mounting interfaces.

Models 03 and 05 DA Actuators

Will have an extended-length top shaft with a NAMUR slot and an adapter plate that will allow the fitment of an industry standard F05 VDI/VDE bracket.

Models 07 and 08 DA Actuators

Will have a standard-length top shaft with a NAMUR slot and an adapter plate that will allow the fitment of an industry standard F05 VDI/VDE bracket.

Models 09 and 10 DA Actuators

Will have a standard-length top shaft with a NAMUR slot and additional M5 mounting holes machined into the top actuator case.

Models 12, 14 and 15 DA Actuators

Will have a shortened-length top shaft with a NAMUR slot and additional M5 mounting holes machined into the top actuator case.

Order Codes and Prices

The units can be ordered by adding a “V” to the end of the order code (i.e., 057-100V). An updated price list that includes the new VDI / VDE DA Actuators will be provided soon. 

Availability

Units are available to order immediately on standard factory lead times.

For more information, contact:
Kinetrol USA
https://kinetrolusa.com
972-447-9443