An electric actuator (Electronic Actuator), is an actuator with electricity as the driving energy, using a certain driving energy and working under a certain control signal. It’s used in control links of various industrial automation processes. The application in industrial production is more extensive than pneumatic actuators and hydraulic actuators. There are many types of electric actuators, so it has a different name in different industry fields. It is called valve electric device in the industrial pipeline valve industry, and in the instrument, the industry called it an electric actuator, but now the industry has no clear distinction. It can be used with a variety of valves such as butterfly valves, ball valves, gate valves, control valves, etc. With different functions and operation modes of valves, electric actuators, and valves can constitute electric valves or electric regulating valves.
The classification of Electric actuator
The most commonly used classification method of electric actuators is divided into angular stroke electric actuators, linear electric actuators, and multi-turn electric actuators according to their different movement modes. Angular stroke electric actuators can be divided into multi-turn transformation and partial rotation transformation, while linear electric actuators can also be further divided into the push-pull type and gear rotation type.
- According to the mode of exercise:
Most of the angular stroke and linear actuators are modified based on multi-rotation type: based multi-rotation type, with worm gear secondary gearbox to form 0~90° angular stroke electric actuator; equipped with screw components to form a linear electric actuator.
Angular stroke actuator: 0~90° angular stroke actuator is used to control ball valves, plug valves, butterfly valves and louver valves, and other angular stroke valves;
Multi-turn electric actuator needs to run more than 360°to control valve opening and closing, mainly used for globe valves, pipe clamp valves, and diaphragm valves;
Straight stroke actuator: the output is the force, and the generation is the displacement, mainly used for gate valves and slide valves.
- According to the different power supplies:
Electric actuators have two kinds of drive power energy, according to the different power sources used. Electric actuators can be divided into AC AC actuators and DC-DC actuators.
According to the mode of operation, it is divided into two categories (electric switching type and electric adjustment type)
Advantages: It is easy to access energy, has fast signal transmission speed, long transmission distance, easy centralized control, high sensitivity and precision, convenient cooperation with electric adjustment instruments, simple installation, and wiring.
Disadvantages: It is a complex structure, the average failure rate is higher than that of pneumatic actuators, and it is suitable for places where explosion-proof requirements are not high and air sources are lacking.