A Beginners Guide to Motorized Valve
What is a Motor Operated Valve or Motorized Valve?
The motorized Valve or motor-operated valve (MOV) is an important item of the Plant & Piping system. These valves are generally of a wide size range and are used for different applications such as Pump discharge etc. Motor Operated. Valves are often called as On-Off valves as the motors serve the purpose of fully opening or fully closing valves in pipelines. For example, in cooling water lines, and process pipelines where controlling fluid is not required, motor-operated valves can be used to fully allow or fully stop the fluid flow. These valves are not used for throttling purposes as they serve mainly On-Off applications. Motor-operated valves can be of various types e.g. Gate/ Ball/ Butterfly etc. with actuator control. The design of Motors and valves can be different. An electric motor is mounted on the valve and geared to the valve stem so that when the motor operates the valve will open or close. For this MOV, a motor operated with actuator control from the local panel or, from the control room is required. There is a requirement for coordination among Piping-Electrical-Instrumentation-Process engineers and vendors for the design and procurement of such motor-operated valves.
Applications of Motorized Valves
Motorised control valve / Motor operated valves are usually for full open and full close applications.
However, there are places where they are used for position control as well.
Types of motor-operated valves
Motorised control valves can be classified into three types. However, it must be noted that the main application of motorised valves are for flow control and flow isolation.
Key Elements of Motor Operated Valves
Operation Process
- Control Signal: The process starts with a control signal, which can be manual (via a switch) or automated (from a control system or programmable logic controller, PLC).
- Motor Activation: The control unit sends an electrical signal to the motor based on the desired valve position (open, closed, or anywhere in between).
- Actuator Movement: The motor generates rotational or linear movement, which is transferred to the actuator. The actuator then moves the valve mechanism accordingly.
- Valve Adjustment: The valve mechanism (e.g., ball, disc, or gate) moves to the required position, adjusting the flow rate through the valve.
- Feedback: Many motorized valves include position sensors that provide feedback to the control unit, ensuring the valve has reached the desired position. This feedback loop helps maintain precise control.
Advantages
- Automation: Enables automated control and integration with complex systems.
- Precision: Provides accurate control over fluid flow rates.
- Remote Operation: This can be operated remotely, which is useful for inaccessible or hazardous environments.
- Efficiency: Reduces the need for manual intervention, improving operational efficiency.
Basic Wiring diagram
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