Motorized valves use an electric motor to open or close the valve, making them ideal for large or remote fluid control applications. They work the same as manual valves, with the motor being the only difference. Different types of valves use different mechanisms, and motorized valves have electrical limits to prevent over-advancement.
A motorized valve is a type of valve that uses an electric motor to open or close its mechanism. This type of valve is ideal for very large valve types or remote fluid control applications such as aircraft de-icing, agricultural irrigation and automatic fire extinguishing. Most valve types are suitable for motorized applications with some commonly used types such as gate, ball and butterfly. The motorized valve is also suitable for remote flow control applications where system inputs involve incremental valve operation. The internal fluid control mechanisms of power operated valves are generally identical to their manual counterparts; the valve actuation inputs are the only difference between the two.
Valves play a vital role in fluid flow circuits ranging from garden hoses to hydroelectric power generation systems. However, valve actuation can present logistical problems when the valves are too large to be practically opened or closed by hand, are located in remote, inaccessible locations or have to operate at times when plants or installations are unattended. The answer to these problems is the use of the motorized valve. This type of valve works in exactly the same way as a manual variety with the exception of being operated by an electric motor. This type of valve can be opened or closed remotely by an operator or by input from an automated system.
Power operated valves typically have an electric motor that drives a feed mechanism through a gear train to open or close them. The particular advance mechanism depends on the type of valve. Vertical stroke valves such as gate or gate valves usually use a screw mechanism that raises or lowers the gate plate and are usually found in larger systems such as water mains. Globe valves also use a screw advance mechanism to position the conical poppet that controls fluid flow in high precision metering applications.
Rotary or quarter-turn motorized valves are the type of valve with the fastest actuation times and typically use a cam or central spindle advance mechanism. These valves are among the most common types of motorized valves and include varieties of ball and butterfly valves. These valves are not suitable for flow control, but have the best sealing characteristics of all valve types. They are commonly used on high pressure fuel lines and aircraft deicing systems.
Internally the motorized valve is generally identical to a manual valve of the same type. The only physical difference between the two is the inclusion of a motor and gear assembly. Motorized valve mechanisms are prevented from advancing too far using a series of electrical limits that cut power to the motor when a valve is fully open or closed. When the valve needs to be adjusted again, the direction of the motor is simply reversed to rotate the valve in the opposite direction.
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