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Lecture 4
Contents
Actuators
• Introduction
• Solenoids
• Motors
• Actuating valves
• Switches
• Power amplifiers
Revision
• A sensor is a device giving a signal for the detection or measurement of a
physical property
• During a measurement there appear various errors: deterministic errors and
random errors
• A sensor is described by its properties: Full scale input and output,
accuracy, sensitivity, resolution, linearity, drift, hysteresis, repeatability
and dynamic characteristics
• Each sensor has to be calibrated, because the characteristic of a sensor
differs from one sensor to another.
• Motion sensors can measure displacement, velocity, acceleration, force and
stress. Commonly used are resolver, optical encoder, LVDT, tachometer,
and piezo - resistive sensors.
• Temperature sensors are thermoelements, RTD and thermistor.
• To measure the volumetric flow rate, there are used turbine meters,
magnetic flow sensors and difference pressure sensors.
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
Introduction
An actuator is a device that converts the control signal into action on the control
element.
Examples:
A valve is a control element. The valve actuator converts a low power control
signal into a force opening and closing the valve.
An electric heater is a control element. A relay is an actuator that converts a
current signal into switching on or off the electric heater.
The actuator system usually includes two parts: an amplifier and a proper
actuator. The amplifier amplifies the power of the control signal from the
computer to drive the actuator.
Types of actuators:
• electrical,
• pneumatic, typically to set valves,
• hydraulic, for large forces,
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
Solenoids
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
Motors
DC motors
Very common. The commutator is the real disadvantage, which restrict the
power and the speed of the DC motor.
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
AC motors
They were difficult to control but now by development of power electronics this
is not any longer restriction.
• cost effective
• simple construction
• reliable
• convenient power supply
• no commutator
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
Stepping motors
Stepping motors are incremental-drive actuators that are driven in fixed angular
increments (steps).
Each step of the motor is the response of the motor rotor to an input pulse,
which are typically synchronised with pulses from the control computer. The
feedback is used to compensate the motion errors.
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
Actuating valves
In many process control systems, the manipulated variable is the flow rate of a
fluid, and the pneumatic control valve is the most common final control
element. A typical pneumatic control valve is illustrated in the figure above.
The input to the valve is a 3- to 15-psi air pressure signal, which is applied to
the top of the diaphragm. The diaphragm actuator converts the air pressure into
a displacement of the valve stem. The valve body and trim varies the area
through which the flowing fluid must pass.
The input air pressure signal may come directly from a pneumatic controller; it
may come from a pneumatic valve conditioner; or it may come from a
electropneumatic transducer. A valve positioner is a pneumatic amplifier that
provides additional power to operate the valve. The electropneumatic transducer
converts the milliampere signal from an electronic controller into the 3- to 15-
psi air pressure signal required by the control valve.
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
Switches
The physical control variable can also be an on/off value produced by electro-
mechanical relays or electronic switches.
Power
Electric
heater
Input from
controller
Electronic switch
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Industrial Control Technology Lecture 4
Power amplifiers
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