Pneumatic Vane Actuators

A pneumatic vane actuator is a type of pneumatic actuator that uses compressed air to convert linear motion into rotary motion. It consists of a housing, a rotor with a vane that slides within the housing, and a shaft that connects the rotor to the valve or other device being controlled.

When compressed air is supplied to the inlet port of the actuator, it pushes the vanes outwards, causing the rotor to rotate. The rotation of the rotor is transferred to the shaft, which in turn moves the valve or other device. When the compressed air is released from the inlet port, air applied to the return port (or a spring) pushes the vanes back, returning the rotor to its original position.

Industrial pneumatic vane actuators are commonly used in various industrial applications, such as in process control, power plants, and HVAC systems, to control the flow of fluids, air, and gases. They are also used in oil and gas, water treatment, and chemical processing plants.

The advantages of industrial pneumatic vane actuators include their ability to provide precise control, high speed of operation, and ease of maintenance. They are also relatively inexpensive and widely available. Vane actuators are smaller and more compact compared to other types of pneumatic actuators, such as piston actuators, which makes them well-suited for tight spaces. A vane-type pneumatic actuator has only one moving part because it consists of a single vane that rotates within the housing. The vanes assembly is the only component that moves within the actuator, making it more reliable, and it requires less maintenance than other types of actuators with multiple moving parts.

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

Proven Dependability: Kinetrol Vane Actuators

Kinetrol actuators provide years of reliable and dependable performance in the toughest environments and application. When you plan your next valve automation requirement, choose Kinetrol vane actuators.

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

Innovative Gate Opening System Driven by Kinetrol Actuators

The customer is a foundry located in the mid-West. Safe access over a conveyor is required over a ramp to allow personnel to come and go as needed. A pneumatic gate and ramp system needed to be designed that would simultaneously open and close two (2) steel gates. The opening and closing would be controlled by a simple hand-switch on the ramp railing.

View of ramp and gates.

Side view of Kinetrol actuator and drive shaft.

Actuator, solenoid and driveshaft.

Two Kinetrol vane actuators are mounted under and on each side of the ramp. Driveshafts connected to the Kinetrol actuators open and close the steel gates. Solenoid valves respond to the hand-switch to pilot the actuators. 

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

Consider Space and Fit as a Cost Driver When Applying Actuation to Your Valves and Dampers

Being creative with the design and layout of automated valve packages, and paying attention to space, has significant impact on the total life-cost of an automated valve (or damper) package. Evaluating the footprint available, and then choosing components that will allow for simple installation and continued ease of maintenance, will pay dividends over the long term. Always plan your valve and damper automation systems with ample space for access to tools and service personnel.  Don't burden your maintenance staff with an over complicated or nightmarish actuation system that takes hours of preparation just to do routine maintenance. Also consider that easier access many times means greater safety.

Kinetrol pneumatic actuators, spring modules, and positioners are engineered with this in mind. Their efficient actuator design provides more torque in a smaller package and their bolt together, modular configuration, provides very significant space savings. The result is more power in a smaller space, along with easy access, and quick change-out.

Consider Space When Applying Actuation
(click for larger view)

As you can see from the image above, electrohydraulically powered valves and dampers (left) require pumps and motors. Pneumatic cylinder operated valve and dampers require mounting fixtures, linkages, and additional tubing. But you'll note the Kinetrol actuator and positioner (center) provides mounting directly to the valve/damper shaft. The automation is done cleanly and takes up substantially less space.

Which would you rather service?

Pneumatic Valve and Damper Actuators Designed to Stand Up to the Cement Industry

Cement silos.

Cement plants take a harsh toll on equipment such as valves and actuators. Abrasive material is involved from the beginning to the end. Materials handled are often dusty and cause severe abrasive wear of equipment. The movement, blending, storage, and transport of limestone, shale, iron ore, and clay wreaks havoc on the life expectancy of process equipment. Additionally, corrosion issues in cement plants are frequent and costly.

Because of their reliability and ruggedness, Kinetrol rotary vane actuators are used in many processes across a cement plant. These applications include vehicle unloading, silo discharge, air cooling dampers, distribution, bagging and emissions control.

You can download a PDF that outlines where vane actuators are used in all areas of cement production here, or you can read the embedded document below.

Kinetrol Vane Actuators in the Cement Industry from Kinetrol USA

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

Why Vane Actuators Are Better - We'll Make This Easy

With millions of actuators performing reliably around the world, the Kinetrol vane actuators' outstanding cycle life, smooth and precise movement, and environmentally rugged design makes it the best choice for all of your valve actuation needs.

The rotary vane actuator design is based upon a single moving part which eliminates additional parts required to convert linear motion to rotary motion. This simple and innovative design provides a highly accurate and extremely reliable actuator for operating valves, drives and dampers, and is perfectly suited for the most demanding process control control applications.

Kinetrol Product Line Video

A short overview of the Kinetrol product line.

For over 50 years Kinetrol has been providing trouble-free valve and damper actuators to the chemical, biofuel, food & beverage, metal, mineral, oil, gas, pharmaceutical, power generation, paper, textile, water, wastewater, and transportation industries.

Proportional Spool Valve + Robust Force Balance Mechanism = Smooth and Accurate Control

Kinetrol's AP pneumatic positioner.

Kinetrol's AP pneumatic positioner combines the smoothness and accuracy of Kinetrol’s proven mechanical positioner technology (using a proportional spool valve driven by a simple, accurate and robust force balance mechanism) with new advances in convenience and simplicity of use, derived from the unique innovative design both of the internal mechanism and of the overall package.

The result is a positioner with unparalleled performance and real industrial robustness, easy to calibrate and characterize, and adaptable to the whole range of applications with a great list of options:

• High flow valves
• Direct mount or industry standard discrete mount housings
• 4-20mA angle retransmit
• Limit switches
• Clear Cone position monitor
• I/P convertors (either simple or with various explosion proof options)

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

The AP positioner is designed to drive a rotary or linear actuator to a position set by a 3-15 psi (0.2-1.0 bar) signal and hold it there until the signal changes.

When a signal pressure is applied to the diaphragm it moves the force balance lever clockwise against the tension of the feedback spring. This moves the spool valve, supplying air pressure to one side of the actuator while exhausting trapped air from the other side. The feedback shaft follows the movement of the actuator and turns the cam counter clockwise, pushing the cam follower and increasing the tension on the feedback spring until it balances the force on the diaphragm and moves the spool valve to its central ‘hold’ position.

The relationship between the input signal and desired position (the ‘characteristic’) is determined by the cam profile. A linear 3-15 psi (0.2 - 1.0 bar) signal / 0-90° output movement cam is standard. Split range, fast opening, equal percentage or customized characteristic cams are available.

See the brochure below for detailed information and illustrations. For more information, contact Kinetrol USA at http://www.kinetrolusa.com or call 972-447-9443.

Kinetrol AP Pneumatic Positioner from Kinetrol USA

Kinetrol Blueline Series Food, Beverage, and Pharma Pneumatic Actuators

Here's a new, short video about the Kinetrol Blueline Series actuator. The Blueline Series of pneumatic vane actuators for use in foodservice and beverage processing. The actuators are intended to be installed in areas where harsh chemical wash-down is required.

Kinetrol Blueline Features:

• Very good resistance to "caustic wash-down" procedures as typically performed in the food industry.
• Very good resistance to corrosion In salt laden environments.
• Meets the FDA’s resinous and polymeric standard. 

Pneumatic Vane Actuators Can Now Be Used in Foodservice Wash-down Applications

Kinetrol Blueline Foodservice Actuator
(Double-acting)

Finally, food and beverage processing companies can take advantage of the long-life and headache-free performance of Kinetrol vane actuators.

Kinetrol USA has officially introduced it's "Blueline" Series of pneumatic vane actuators for use in foodservice and beverage processing. The actuators are intended to be installed in areas where harsh chemical wash-down is required. These areas are very tough on most types of pneumatic actuators because the caustic or acidic chemicals used in cleaning adversely effect the actuator. All stainless steel actuators are an alternative, but they are prohibitively expensive. Kinetrol's Blueline Series provides a very economical option.

Kinetrol Blueline Actuator
(Spring-return)

Blueline Actuators are permitted for use in contact with food in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDA) and all applicable regulations, including 21 CR 175.300 (Code of Federal Regulations). The new actuator has an applied coating that meets with the FDA's allowance whereby "Resinous and polymeric coatings may be safely used as the food-contact surface of articles intended for use in producing, manufacturing, packing, processing, preparing, treating, packaging, transporting, or holding food ...".

The Blueline Series provides food and beverage processors all the time-proven benefits of the Kinetrol PLUS provides an affordable option for tough chemical wash-down areas. 

Kinetrol Blueline Features:

• Very good resistance to "caustic wash-down" procedures as typically performed in the food industry.
• Very good resistance to corrosion In salt laden environments.
• Very good non-stick properties.

For more information, contact Kinetrol at 972-447-9443.

Review: Vane Actuators

An internal view of a vane actuator allowing you
to see the one piece vane and shaft, lip seals,
travel stops, and the clam shell  design.

The vane actuator is a simple and elegant mechanism for quarter-turn valves, dampers, and other rotary motion applications. The vane actuator produces rotary motion through the application of air pressure to a "vane' attached directly to an output shaft. In higher quality vane actuators, the vane and shaft are machined from a single piece of steel. Because of this, any motion from the vane is transferred directly to the shaft, without backlash or lost motion.

The vane includes “lip seals” that isolate the vane and shaft from the air supply. The lip seal design provides several advantages, namely eliminating the need for shaft seals and an inherent cleaning action internally. A split, or “clam-shell” housing is assembled around the vane, totally enclosing it. When supply air is applied to one side of the vane, torque is produced moving the vane in one direction. Accordingly, there is direct rotary motion transfer to the shaft, with 100% efficiency. Torque is controlled by surface area of the vane and the differential pressure on either side of the vane. Bi-directional over-travel is limited by the use of travel stops mounted in both sides of the housing.

The Kinetrol Vane Actuator

Single acting vane actuators use a spring to return the actuator to its resting position. By adding a spring, vane actuators can fail-open or fail-closed in the event of power failure. Double acting actuators use supply air on either side of the actuator to dictate clockwise or counter-clockwise movement. Other types of pneumatic actuators generally require high quality air as their power source, but vane actuators can accept poorer quality supply air, as the vane design uses the vane’s “wiping action” to push dirt and grime out of the way. Vane actuators are generally more compact that other types of actuators and come in many sizes, producing a wide range of torques.

For more information about vane actuators visit http://www.kinetrolusa.com or call 972-447-9443.

Hear Kinetrol USA's Neil Meredith Interviewed at WEFTEC 2016

Neil Meredith

Kinetrol USA's Mid-West Regional Sales Manager Neil Meredith was interviewed at WEFTEC 2016 about Kinetrol products, markets, and opportunities. Take a minute to hear what he says!

WEFTEC®, the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, is the biggest meeting of its kind in North America and offers thousands of water quality professionals from around the world the best water quality education and training available today. Also recognized as the world’s largest annual water quality exhibition, WEFTEC’s massive show floor provides unparalleled access to the field’s most cutting-edge technologies and services.

Kinetrol actuators are widely used in municipal water systems across the United States and are known for their outstanding performance, durability, and extreme high cycle life.

20 Innovative & Elegant Engineering Improvements for Pneumatic Valve Positioners

Kinetrol AP Pneumatic Positioner
on top of a Kinetrol Vane Actuator

A valve positioner is an instrument attached to a valve to ensure the valve is at a desired position of opening or closing as per the control signal. Positioners sense the valve position through a position feedback mechanism connected to valve stem. There are many types of valve positioners. Some utilizing pneumatic signals (referred to as pneumatic positioners) and some using electrical current as the signal (referred to as electro-pneumatic positioners). Many manufacturers stake claim over design and performance enhancements, but one pneumatic positioner stands out because of its elegant design. The Kinetrol AP Positioner.

The AP pneumatic positioner combines the smoothness and accuracy of Kinetrol’s proven mechanical positioner technology (using a proportional spool valve driven by a simple, accurate and robust force balance mechanism) with new advances in convenience and simplicity of use, derived from the unique innovative design both of the internal mechanism and of the overall package. 

The result is a positioner with unparalleled performance and real industrial robustness, sweet and easy to calibrate and characterize, and adaptable to the whole range of applications with its unbeatable list of options – high flow valves, direct mount or industry standard discrete mount housings, 4-20mA angle retransmit, limit switches, Clear Cone position monitor and I/P convertors (either simple or with various explosion proof options).

20 Innovative & Elegant Engineering Improvements

1. ENCLOSURE – robust die-cast metal with tough corrosion-resistant epoxy coating and O-ring sealing. Layout gives easy access to all adjustments on removal of lid.
2. LID – shown with optional Clear Cone sealed angle monitor. Epoxy coated die–cast metal held on by four captive screws gives quick access to the interior.
3. CARRIER PLATE ASSEMBLIES – integrated assemblies carrying the feedback shaft and cam plus angle retransmit drive and pot (when specified). Easily removed for conversion or maintenance.
4. FEEDBACK POT DRIVE – zero backlash, proven trouble free for life.
5. OPTIONAL ANGLE RETRANSMIT CIRCUIT – externally powered (8–30v DC) linear 4-20mA feedback, rangable down to 30º for full 4-20mA span. Easily accessible zero and span adjustment.
6. RETRANSMIT POT – high quality conductive plastic servo–type with ball bearings. Proven long life and high precision.
7. ACTUATOR INTERFACE – options include NAMUR standard (shown), Kinetrol male square or Kinetrol direct mount female square. Quick external conversion allows bracket mounting to any rotary or linear actuator.
8. INTERCHANGEABLE PORT PLATES – easily convertible for different flowrate options.
9. INTERNAL ANGLE SCALE – with adjustable indicator for easy field calibration.
10. EXHAUST SNUBBER SCREWS – allow travel speed reduction down to 1/ 3 x full speed, independently in each direction, by screwing in to restrict exhaust air flow.
11. GAUGE PORT – as standard.
12. SPAN ADJUSTMENT – quick and easy thumbwheel setting with slotted locking screw.
13. ZERO ADJUSTMENT – quick and easy thumbwheel setting with slotted locking screw.
14. STRAIGHT–LINE MECHANISM – unique geometry allows cw/ccw change over by simple cam inversion.
15. FEEDBACK CAM – quick and easy reversal ( for rotational sense handing) or replacement (to change the response characteristic) of the cam is facilitated by a spring loaded retention device.
16. FEEDBACK SHAFT – innovative collet connection permits quick– fit/release of the actuator interface and eliminates backlash.
17. 3–TERMINAL DIN PLUG – retrofit-able option available for 4-20mA angle retransmit. Allows fully external connection with rapid connect/disconnect capability.
18. AIRFLOW CHANGEOVER BLOCK – allows selection of direction in which positioner moves (for direct mount models).
19. SPOOL VALVE – highly reliable, all metal, 5 port proportional valve controls the air flow. Three versions, with different flowrates, are easily interchangeable.
20. UNIT IDENTIFICATION – each positioner carries a unique serial number and is CE marked.

Kinetrol Actuators in Wood Power Pole Manufacturing

Wood treatment steam valve

Wooden utility power poles must be chemically treated to protect against pests, rot, and decay. The manufacturing process to apply the chemicals requires heat, vacuum, pressure, and harsh chemicals.

The pressure treatment process varies everything from full vacuum to prepare the poles to accept the treatment, to positive pressure and elevated temperatures (using steam) to force the chemical treatment into the pole.

Pole treatment vessel

There are three areas where automated valves are required: 

1) Steam control valve
2) Vacuum pump valve
3) Chemical flow control valve

The steam line at one plant was unreliable and very expensive. It was costing the plant about $4000. To help come up with a better, more economical solution, a  Kinetrol USA Distributor was invited in and specified a Kinetrol actuator, positioner and custom brackets for the existing steam line valve. 

Look carefully to see (2) Kinetrol
Actuators on chemical feed lines.

The retrofit was completed with the new Kinetrol actuator and positioner at a fraction of the previous actuator package cost. The customer was delighted the Kinetrol package gave them better control in a package that was much easier to service. 



KINETROL

FIELD TESTED | APPLICATION DRIVEN

20" High Performance Butterfly Valve Closed in Under 1/2 Second!

Fast closing Kinetrol actuator

This video demonstrates how quickly a large butterfly valve can be closed with a Kinetrol vane actuator spring return unit. In this case, it's a 20" stainless steel high performance butterfly valve (HPBV) being tested in the shop.

You'll note the valve takes about 11 seconds to open, but only 0.4 seconds to close, using the Kinetrol spring return unit.

Quick closing valves are used in emergency situations to stop the flow of fluids that may contribute to uncontrolled combustion, cause backstream contamination, or allow spillage of hazardous materials.

Kinetrol Pneumatic Actuators at Work

Kinetrol rotary vane actuators are the true workhorse of the valve and damper actuation industry. Known for surviving applications with the highest cycle rates, the nastiest environments, and the most remote areas, Kinetrol actuators continue to provide years of maintenance-free service.





This video is a slide presentation of Kinetrol actuators at work.

Valve Automation Package for Tough Hog Fuel Boiler Applications

Hog fuel boiler actuator.

Hog fuel boilers are wood-fired boilers used predominantly in paper mills, sawmills, and wood processing plants. The term “hog fuel” refers to the wide variety of wood and wood wastes used to feed the boilers (called hogged fuel). Hog fuel contains wood residue, wood waste products, bark, sawdust, planer shavings, and wood chunks that are processed into coarse chips and clumps.

The ash from burning wood and wood wastes has a very high pH, high enough to make the wood ash exhibit a corrosive characteristic, which must be considered when selecting valves and actuators. All equipment in contact, or in close proximity, to this ash must stand up to the wet, corrosive, and dirty environment.

To facilitate the removal and transport of the ash, water is introduced for handling and management, thus creating corrosive slurries. Control valves with pneumatic actuators are used to control water flow and slurry flow. The environment is extremely dirty, and as mentioned above, corrosive. Any equipment connected to this process must be designed with performance and maintenance in mind.

Kinetrol rotary vane actuators, spring return units, and EL positioners are ideal for this type of service. Standard design features such as epoxy enamel finishes, stainless steel screws, sealed housings, and direct mount configurations provide an automation package that is proven to outlast other types of actuators and assemblies in very challenging environments.

6 Reasons Why Pneumatic Vane Actuators are Superior to Rack and Pinion Actuators

Rotary vane actuators offer distinct design and performance advantages.

1. Rotary vane actuators do not convert linear motion to rotary motion, unlike rack and pinion actuators. No additional gearing is required and no side loading is transferred to the actuator housing.
2. Vane actuator lip seals are the key to long life. The double opposing lip seal design, with stainless steel expanders, provides unmatched service life by using air pressure to improve the actuators seal-to-enclosure contact, and provide a “self cleaning” effect on the epoxy or PTFE internal finish.
3. The elimination of pressure bearing o-ring shaft seals. Rack and pinion actuators require shaft sealing o-rings that are exposed to the full supply air pressure used to operate the actuator. These o-rings wear, causing leaks, a drop in efficiency, and wasted energy through air consumption. Vane actuators' double opposing lip seals isolate the supply air pressure from the actuator shaft, requiring only a low friction bearing on the shaft.
4. Rotary vane actuators provide superior modulating accuracy. Because of the integral vane and shaft (machine from a single casting), lost motion or hysteresis is reduced dramatically which intern provides much tighter modulation and control. The vane actuators inherent low friction also reduces hunting and sticking.
5. Direct mount, modular design for springs, positioners, switches, and solenoids reduce space requirements and lower inventory costs. Since vane actuator accessories direct mount to various size actuators, there’s no need to inventory and keep track of mounting kits. 
6. Rotary vane actuator spring return units are designed to be virtually indestructible. Using low stress, clock springs reduces spring tension loss and metal fatigue. The housing for vane a actuator springs are sealed from the atmosphere, preventing corrosion of internal parts. Most importantly, these type of spring units provide the lowest torque loss which enables the section of smaller (less expensive) actuators.

Tough Actuator Service on Paper Plant Green Liquor Line

Pulp and Paper Plant

It's said the only thing a pulp and paper plant doesn't reuse is the "shade the building casts". The processes used in the production of pulp and paper are very efficient when you consider the reuse of energy and by-products. The efficiency comes at a cost though - through very hostile atmospheres and demanding operating conditions for process equipment.

For example, the "kraft process" (also known as the sulfate process) is the method to convert wood chips into pulp and then to cellulose fibers. This is done by mixing the wood chips with sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphate, soaking, cooking and processing.

Here's a very basic explanation of the kraft process. Wood chips are soaked and processed in sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphate mixture known as "white liquor".  After the wood chips are impregnated with white liquor, they are then cooked in digesters to break the wood down into cellulose. The solid pulp is then separated and the remaining fluid is referred to as "black liquor". Black liquor is further processed to remove solids and chemicals which are to be re-used in the pulping process. One of the final by-products is "green liquor" which contains sodium carbonate and sodium sulfide and is then reacted with lime to regenerate more white liquor.

All of these steps expose process equipment, piping, and valves to very tough environments. Kinetrol actuators are preferred in these situations because they don't allow corrosive atmospheres to penetrate the actuator or springs, their long cycle life,  and their epoxy stove enamel finish.

Below is a picture of a Kinetrol model 14 double acting actuator on a 8” full-port ball valve on a green liquor line. The valve cycles 2 times per day to direct green liquor flow and weak wash (weak white liquor) alternatively from one pipe to another in order to prevent solids build up in the pipelines.

Kinetrol Model 14 in Green Liquor Line