Pneumatic Actuator Application Guide for The Asphalt Industry

There are two main types of asphalt plants, batch and continuous. Batch plants are the most widespread and offer the greatest flexibility. Single batch mixes can be produced per each customer’s requirements. Individual components are weighed and metered separately every 50-60 seconds to produce a complete batch. Continuous plants produce single mix asphalt in large quantities without interruption. The production system is simplified, which reduces maintenance, but offers less flexibility.

The following Application Guide concentrates on batch plants, although similarities exist between both.

You can read the guide below, or download it from Kintrol USA'a site here.

Pneumatic Actuator Application Guide for The Asphalt Industry from Kinetrol USA

Kinetrol Actuator on Asphalt Plug Valve

Kinetrol actuator on asphalt valve.

A Mid-west asphalt manufacturer purchased Kinetrol actuators for use at two of their plants as a trial for possible standardization. This asphalt producer owns 7 asphalt mix plants and has been plagued with failing rack and pinion actuators. They're used to open and close their liquid asphalt valves (Homestead plug valves).

The service is extremely nasty, as the asphalt is hot, sticky and gets everywhere. The Kinetrol actuators were installed on 3” Homestead liquid asphalt plug valves with extended brackets and couplings to prevent the actuators from seeing over-temperatures. The valves are cycled 10 times per day.

Since the summer of 2014 they have installed 5 Kinetrol actuators and all are working without problems. The initial results are so positive the customer plans to standardize on Kinetrol Vane Actuators, and replace the rack and pinion actuators as they fail.