Posts Tagged ‘valve actuators’
Real nice video on rebuilding a Johnson Controls pneumatic valve. Stromquist and Company has Johnson pneumatic valve repair parts in stock. Give us a call in our Florida or Georiga branches for your pneumatic valve repair parts.
Valves and actuators play an integral part in the proper functioning of HVAC systems. When properly installed and functioning correctly they boost the performance and efficiency of integrated building technology. But like with any equipment, there comes a time when valves and actuators need to be replaced for a variety of reasons.
Damaged linkages and/or actuators lead to poor functioning of the HVAC system, which results in loss of energy efficiency, consumer comfort, time, and labor. Replacing a valve along with the actuator, or trying to determine how to fix an airside linkage, is not always a sensible solution. Taking a system off-line to replace various components is not only laborious, it’s expensive. Facilities can lose thousands of dollars a day during maintenance shut-down. With Belimo’s retrofit solutions, this problem goes away. Valve and damper applications can be quickly and conveniently restored without any interruption in service. In fact, entire systems can often be updated in a day. A poorly functioning or even non-functioning system can be transformed into a high functioning, more efficient system.
Belimo provides many retrofits that are compatible with all major control systems, so there is no need to replace other system controls. MFT Technology is also available and can be re-programmed to suit your controller needs with just one MFT model actuator.
If it’s time to replace any actuators or valves in your building or plant, consider a retrofit solution from Belimo. Someone from Stromquist, along with Belimo, will be glad to assist you with the change.
While I was in the Orlando office the other day Pat Marley took a call from a client asking how to mount his Belimo TF series actuator to his Belimo ball valve using the WTF mounting adaptor kit. Sadly the Belimo WTF mounting adaptor kit comes with no instructions on how to undertake this proceedure. Pat, being Pat using the speaker phone walked the client through the mounting proceedures and was kind enough to walk through the installation again for my camera also so we could present this article to you… our clients.
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I hope this series of photographs takes the mystery out of installing this Belimo actuator to the Belimo ball valve. At Stromquist and Company we will continue to take the “MYSTERY” out of controls for you. If there are any more controls mysteries we can solve for you give us a call in Atlanta at 1-800-241-9471 or in Orlando at 1-800-638-7829.
The idea for this article came across my computer in the form of an e-mail sent to me by a fellow employee of Stromquist and Company with an attached photograph.
I know we all strive in our chosen industry to do things right with as much professionalism as our clients will afford us. I also realize at times even the best of service personnel will make installation mistakes. Some of these mistakes are quite humorous, some are quite expensive to fix, and some of these installations could be quite possibly dangerous.
Since the Control Trends website is duty bound to get, you our readers, the best information on new controls, controls installation, and new trends in the control industry would it not be appropriate to also show how not to install a product?
We at Control Trends will not mention anyone’s name or any company name we do this only as an insight to possible installation mistakes and how to avoid these mistakes.
This first installation is quite humorous to me and I call it “The Sunshine State Weather Protector” Read More
This article is taken from a flyer written by Belimo about four years ago called “The Belimo Code” We thought we would revive the article to help our clients remember or for the newbie’s to learn from. This article will cover most of the Belimo actuators you will see in the field, for the others, give us a call and we will “Break the Code” for you.
The first part of the Belimo code is why Belimo? Belimo is a Swiss company so the name Belimo is derived from its Swiss meaning…
BEraten Consulting
LIfern Delivering
MOntieren Mounting
Now that we have the Belimo name code “cracked” lets breakdown the actuator codes…The first letter of the actuator code is all about TORQUE…
G 360 in-lb G= GIANT
A 180 in-lb A=AWESOME
A 133 in-lb A=AWESOME
N 90 in-lb N=NORMAL
L 35-45 in-lb L=LITTLE
T 18 in-lb T=TINY
The second letter of the actuator code is about MOTOR ACTION…
F=SPRING RETURN (on power failure the motor will return to its normal position)
M=NON-SPRING RETURN (on power failure motor will stay in its current position)
The third letter is about motor speed…note: non-spring return actuators can combine a forth letter to designate MOTOR SPEEDS…
Q=Quickest running (non-spring return)
C=Fast running
A=No Position Feedback (spring return only)
No Letter= Normal Speed
B=Basic
X=Customized
Next will be a set of numbers…These numbers are about POWER SUPPLY…
24=24 VAC/DC
120= 120 VAC
230= 230VAC
After the POWER SUPPLY numbers (stick with me) are the CONTROL letters/numbers…
Blank=On/Off (spring return)
-1= on/off (non-spring return)
-3= Floating Point (spring return)
-3= On/Off, Floating Point (non-spring return)
-3-P5= On/Off, Floating Point with 5Kohm Feedback (non-spring return)
-3-P10= On/Off, Floating Point with 10Kohm Feedback (non-spring return)
-SR= 2-10 VDC
-PC= 0-20 volt (Phasecut)
-MFT= Multi-Function Technology (program what you want)
-MFT95= 0-135ohm
-MFT-20= 6-9 VDC 20 VDC power supply (spring return)
At last we have our last letter which will deal with actuator OPTIONS…
-S=Built in auxiliary switch
-T= Terminal Block
Blank=Cable Version
We have now broken ‘THE BELIMO CODE” until Belimo introduces more actuators, then we may need to add to our code breaking article. If you need Belimo actuators give us a call at Stromquist and Company @ 1-800-241-9471(Atlanta) or at 1-800-638-7828 (Florida)and we will be “Code Breakers” together.
BELIMO USA provides great products and as a Platinum Belimo stocking distributor STROMQUIST & COMPANY loves the solutions Belimo products allow us to bring to our customers. Our customers love the great Belimo damper and Belimo valve actuators, and cool money saving products like the Belimo piping packages. One of the really innovative Belimo products that can save major installation dollars and provide on going energy savings long after the installation is the Belimo PICCV ( Pressure Independent Characterized Control Valve).
Now that might sound like a mouth full, but what the Belimo PICCV valve is a Belimo differential pressure regulator in series with a Belimo characterized control valve. The regulator in the Belimo PICCV valve controls the amount of flow that passes through the Belimo control valve by the diaphragm that moves according to changes in pressure over the Belimo control valve. Thus the flow remains constant no matter what happens with pressure changes.The pressure regulator absorbs all pressure changes so the differential pressure is held constant over the Belimo control valve thus delivering consistent predicable flow. Read More
Gas metering is a big part of what we offer customers. One product that has proven to be very successful is the Honeywell Smart Multivariable (SMV) 
Transmitter. It is an industry leader – there are no others on the market that work as well. It measures the gas pressure & temperature and measures a differential pressure across a primary element. The primary element can be an orifice plate or a Preso Ellipse pitot tube. It creates a differential pressure that we measure and relate to flow (the square root of the pressure drop is proportional to the flow rate). The SMV calculates a corrected flow by accounting for the compressibility of the gas along with the pressure and temperature that exist in the pipe. It is quite an involved calculation that is pre-loaded into the transmitter and set up using a software wizard. Please keep it in mind for gas metering applications – it is an affordable alternative. For under $4000 you can measure big flows accurately with easy installation. Read More
Honeywell has introduced a new HVAC control valve technology that improves temperature control and lowers installation cost by eliminating manual balancing valves. The VRN and VRW series valves provide controlled flow, independent of pressure fluctuations in the system.
When conventional two-way valves in multi-zone systems open or close, the pressure-flow characteristic of the pumps causes an immediate head pressure change to all other valves in the system, resulting in overflow or underflow and the need for manual balancing. With Honeywell’s new VRN and VRW series, one valve integrates the balancing function and control valve function while providing a level of dynamic flow. The dynamic pressure regulator adapts to changing pressures and flows on the supply side of the system, and keeps the flow and energy delivery exactly where specified. In traditional systems, pressure fluctuations could affect the flow across the coils, impacting efficient energy transfer.
Dynamic pressure regulation maintains the required flow rate through the valve by regulating the pressure drop across the control valve seat. The actuator modulates the control valve portion of the valves to the required flow based on heating or cooling load requirements, independent of supply pressure. Flow won’t change until the control system needs to respond to an external change in thermal load or a change in set point. The result is consistent comfort, increased energy efficiency and increased actuator life.
Click here to learn more about the VRN and VRW valves.
First, to understand these types of control you must have the elements of control. The elements of control are the sensor (senses the medium being controlled), the controller (device either preset or programmed to react to the sensor), and the final controlled device such as a damper or a control valve (receives input signals from controller to affect change in controlled medium). These elements are considered the control loop.
On/Off control is the basic type of control in a control loop. With On/Off control, the sensor senses the controlled medium and sends a signal back to the controller, which processes the signal. For ease of understanding, our example will be a heating application. The set point (the desired control point) in this case is 68 degrees with a temperature differential of 2 degrees for the controller. When the sensor’s signal to the controller reports a temperature of less than the controller’s set point, the controller sends a signal to the final control device (hot water valve) to position to fully open until set point is achieved. When the controller receives a signal from the sensor that the set point has been achieved, the controller then sends a signal to the valve to position to fully closed. The problem with On/Off control is over-shoot temperature of the desired system set point because of reaction time between sensor, controller, and final control device. Review: With On/Off, the controller asks “Is there an error?” The controller compares the actual value of the controlled medium to the set point through the sensor. As the controlled medium deviates from set point, the controller’s output cycles the final controlled device on, and when the set point is reached the controller’s output cycles the final control device off.
Floating control is a variation of On/Off control that requires a fast responding sensor and a slow-moving actuator connected to the final controlled device (valve or damper). Using the same example as the On/Off example above, when the sensed temperature drops below the set point of 68 degrees by the controlled medium’s sensor, the controller sends a signal to activate the actuator on the final control device. The actuator starts to slowly drive open the hot water valve, increasing the heat in the controlled medium. When set point is reached the actuator stops opening the final control device (hot water valve) and tries to hold at set point. If set point starts to be over-shot, the controller sends a signal to the actuator to start to drive close the valve. Review: Set point control is achieved when the sensor signal (from the controlled medium) starts to deviate from the controller set point. The controller sends a signal to the actuator of the final control device (valve or damper) to slowly drive open. As the set point is approached the controller sends a signal to the actuator, then the actuator stops and tries to maintain set point. If set point is passed the controller sends signal to the actuator to drive the final control device to a closed position.
Modulating/Proportional represents the higher end of control positioning. In modulating/proportional control the output varies continuously and is not limited to being fully open or fully closed. Proportional means that the size of the output is related to the size of the error detected by the controller. The key phrase for modulating/proportional control is “Continuous Control Action.” The sensor, controller, and final control device act as one unit to maintain constant precise control over the controlled medium. Continuing with the previous example, when a modulating system senses a deviation from the set point of 68 degrees, the controller calculates the amount of the error (1 degree less than set point) and sends a signal to the actuator, which will drive open the final control device (valve or damper) by a certain percentage of the controlled medium’s set point deviation (1/2 degree) to maintain set point without over-shoot. The controller calculates how much the final control device needs to open without over-shoot and will start reversing the actuator to close the final control device to a percentage of the closed position to maintain set point.
Popular modulating control signals include 4-20 ma and 0-10 volts. If you were to look into a control panel like a Hoffman Enclosure you might see controls like a Honeywell UDC3200 that could be taking a 4-20 ma signal from a device like a Hawkeye 908 current transmitter and based on the control input signal from the Hawkeye 908 ( which would most likely be a 4-20 ma signal) the UDC 3200 controller would respond with a 4-20 ma output signal to a device like a Honeywell Variable Frequency Drive which would control either a fan or a pump. This is an example of how a proportional signal like a 4-20ma signal is used in modern HVAC controls.
If you are in Georgia or Florida,the control pros at Stromquist & Company can answer your control questions.
Belimo’s Pipe Package is a simple way of piping HVAC terminal units to reduce the time, space and cost required to make the connection from the distribution piping in the building to the coil. Belimo created a combination of valves and unions to interface easily and with as few connections as possible. Reduced connections and space allow the pipe package to be installed easier and quicker. Belimo’s pipe packages include the valve, actuator and all components assembled and tested. This greatly simplifies the job by eliminating piping connectors, thus saving time and money with less opportunity for error. The pipe package is designed to have valve isolation, which allows for the removal of the valve without having to drain the entire system.
A complete line of standard packages from ½” to 1” and custom orders to 2” are available. All pipe packages are shipped as a complete unit in a sturdy see-through bag, and each unit is customized with a label on the actuator indicating the installation location as supplied by the customer to ensure that every pipe package is installed in the correct location.
To see what the piping package looks like check it out on Stromquist TV.
Stromquist can help you with any of your Belimo needs. If you are located outside the states of Georgia or Florida, we can refer you to one of our affilates at Controls Group North America
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