1. Bettis Electric Actuators

2. Overview: Bettis electric actuators
Bettis electric actuators are produced in Missouri City facility, Houston-USA
It is the traditional “EIM” facility, EIM was started in 1949, it is fully dedicated to actuators and controls
Markets:
Oil & gas industry
Pipelines & compressor stations
Tank storage
Production
Refineries
Petrochemical
Off-shore
Power utility
Marine and navy (Dept. of Defense)
Municipal water and waste-water
General industrial & HVAC
Bettis electric actuators are manufactured in Missouri City Texas - USA. EIM was founded in 1949 by Lynn T. Elliott (EIM is from the names of Mr Elliott, Ince & Morrell who started the company), the company concentrated on the growing oil and gas industries manufacturing many actuators for refineries, pipelines, compressor stations and pumping stations. As the business grew they expanded their product offerings into electric power generating stations, the marine and US Navy markets , water and waste treatments plants and other general industrial markets.
(This slide is to communicate that Bettis electric actuators are manufactured in Missouri City and they get the heritage of experience of EIM which is in the market since long time like successful companies and that they expanded the range of application where EIM actrs were installed as it happens for successful products / companies).
EIM was acquired by Emerson in October 2009
Headquarters & Manufacturing Facility: Missouri City, TX
Primary focus is Electric Actuators and Controls

3. Turn Over 2012: ~ 60 Millions US$
Market Sectors 2012
Turn Over 2012: ~ 60 Millions US$

4. Bettis Electric and EIM Product Range
Mod.500
M2CP
- Electric actuators
- Multi-turn
- Quarter-turn
- Fluid powered actrs (natural gas, quarter-turn low and high pressure)
- Worm/Bevel/Spur gears
- Multiport Valve Actuator
- Controls:
Open/close
Analog positioning and modulating
Digital control
Local and remote control stations
Tec2000 HQ LP LP HP
Worm Gear
MPA
Bevel Gear
Spur Gear
Master Station

5. Bettis Electric Actuators
General Features
6 FRAME MODELS for multi-turn & quarter-turn applications:
MULTI-TURN: Torque output from 176 Nm to 2,575 Nm (BtO w/o gearbox) Thrust up to N (w/o gearbox), from 7 to 120 RPM (std 50Hz models); with gearboxes torque/thrust range increases significantly
QUARTER-TURN:
Torque Range up to 500,000Nm (with gearbox) operating times from 5 seconds to 12 minutes, or longer
ON-OFF and MODULATING SERVICE
POWER SUPPLY: Three Phases from 208 to 690 Volt at 50/60Hz; Single Phase from 110 to 240 Volt at 50/60Hz; Direct Current supply (M2CP only)
We have a quite large range of electric actuators for quarter and multi turn valves and dampers.
(This slide is to communicate that we have a complete product range from the performance point of view, as our competitors).

6. Bettis Electric Series 2000
Worm & wheel permanently self-locking
Taper roller bearings (top & bottom)
Declutch on low torque side
Valve stem never disengages from drive shaft
Automatic motor priority
Low declutch force guaranteed
All shafts bearing supported
(no bushings)
Low rim-pull guaranteed (maximum 80lbs/350N)
Limit drive pinion assembly
Torque limit drive assembly
Here is the sectional drawing of our EIM actuator: electric motor rotation is transmitted through the first reduction stage (spur gears) to the worm shaft which drives the worm gear and the valve stem (or gearbox input shaft).
Valve position monitoring takes place by monitoring the worm shaft rotation by means of the limit drive pinion.
Torque output monitoring takes place by monitoring the worm shaft axial movement regulated by the calibrated cup springs: the worm shaft axial movement is proportional to the real output torque of the actuator and this axial movement is monitored by the Torque Limit Drive assembly which transmits the signal to the actuator controls.
We have a clutch handle to engage the Manual override which operates on the worm shaft / the worm gear reduction stage and the valve stem (or gearbox input shaft).
This mechanical design presents a quite high reliability which is the result of more than 30 years experience on this execution.
EIM electric actuators operate on the worm gear principle. The final output gear is a worm gear drive. Why worm gears? Because worm gears are an excellent choice providing large ratio gear reduction in a compact space. Worm gearing is well suited to handle shock and vibration and they are generally self-locking meaning the valve disc or valve stem cannot backdrive the worm gear, an important requirement in valve operation. Motor brakes are not required to maintain valve position.
The Series 2000 Mechanical design has been well proved over 30 years in the most demanding applications in the harshest environments. While other brands have made obsolete their mechanical designs every 10 years EIM has built upon the strength of the Series 2000 and innovated with modular controls packages. The first package the MCP, the second generation M2CP, and the TEC2000 non-intrusive Total Electronic Actuator use the Series 2000 mechanical design.
This cutaway shows the motor spur gears, the clutch, and the mechanical drive train. A side mounted handwheel with reduction gearing is standard. Move the declutch lever to engage the handwheel gearing. If power is turned on the motor drive has preference and does not backdrive the handwheel. The declutch lever can be padlocked to prevent handwheel operation, or to prevent motor operation during maintenance.
(This slide introduces the working principles of our actrs to create confidence towards our product, which is the fruit of 30 years experience and presents the great reliability of “old style, robust & good” products).

7. Series 2000 Electric Actuator
We go back to our cutaway here of the series 2000 Electric Actuator , this cutaway shows the M2CP controls package easily removed with the common screwdriver for service or to replace any component within the controls package. It contains in a standard NEMA4, NEMA6 , NEMA7 which is weather proof ,temporary submersible and explosion proof hinge control compartment cover.
Enclosure in Marine-grade aluminium – low copper content
Optional: Enclosure in Stainless Steel

8. TEC2000 Mechanical Features
Ductile iron gear housing
Separate Terminal
Chamber,
dual-sealed
Twin access covers
for ease of maintenance
and alternative position
for display / ter. board
Shields protect local control knobs from mechanical damage
The mechanical features of the TEC2000 are the same as the SERIES2000. A standard ductile iron gear housing with no helicoil thread inserts such as used in Aluminum gear cases are there to be pulled out or stripped out. Shields protects the local control knob from mechanical damage. The entire actuator inside and out is painted with the polyester powder coat that passes a 1500 hour salt spray test. The local control knobs are non-penetrating, and they are vibration resistant, hall effect switches which are actuated by magnets in the control knobs. Each control knobs is associated with three magnets that must all three activated in order to detect that the switch is in the correct position instead of someone waving the magnet around the actuator. The aluminum electrical enclosure is made from Marine-grade aluminum which has low-copper content for superior corrosion protection. And all external hardware is 316 series stainless steel both internal and external. Twin access covers or ports are available for ease of maintenance and to allow alternative mounting positions for terminal board and local control interface with display to modify the actuator layout and meet easily possible constrains in the actuator installation place.
At the backside of the actuator there is the separate terminal chamber which is dual-sealed type, so that the controls are not exposed to the external environment during the field wiring.
(This slide presents the external details of our actrs to create confidence towards our product, it is the occasion to highlight some details with good features).
Marine-grade aluminium – low copper content
Non-penetrating, vibration-resistant Hall Effect switches actuated by magnets in control knobs
Stainless steel
316 hardware
(internal & external)
Polyester powder coated inside & out for all environments
(passes 1500-hour salt spray test)

9. TEC 2000 Electronic Actuator
Key Features
proven design of the mechanical part of the actuator which is the fruit of more than 60 years of experience of EIM with electric actuators
‘’state of art’’ electronic control which is the fruit of more than 25 years of experience for the application of electronics on electric actuators: EIM Controlinc was introduced in 1985.
Patented “absolute” position monitoring system, high range, high resolution, based on Hall-effect sensors, no need of internal batteries to “remember the position” in case of operation without external power supply, no need to replace any battery during actuator life.
Output torque control is based on worm-shaft axial load monitoring: real output torque is monitored in real time, no need of data upload/download in case of logic card replacement or motor replacement/rewound.
The actual mechanical design (Series 2000) was introduced around 30 years ago, but it is the result of more than 60 years of EIM experience with electric actuators, in the last 30 years we continuously improved the design/execution reaching a quite high reliability (Some of our competitors like Rotork, Limitorque and Biffi present a mechanical design which relatively recent, around 10 years only).
Same with electronic control: EIM introduced electronic on board of the actuators more than 25 years ago, it was the first version of Controlinc, our integrated digital control network. Our electronic control of EIM TEC2000 is the result of more that 25 years experience of site installations of electronic controls on heavy duty actuators.
Our actuators present a Patented “absolute” position monitoring system, with a really high range of number of turns of output drive (several thousands) to cover all reasonably tech. applications, high resolution of the position in all situation It is “non contact” type based on Hall-effect sensors for longer life.
There is no need of internal batteries to “remember the position” in case of operation without external power supply and no need to replace any battery during actuator life (like for Rotork or Biffi who present incremental encoders, now, after about 15 years, Rotork new release of intelligent actrs has adopted our solution: absolute position sensor!! In practice they recognized that our solution was and is better): replacing internal batteries in actuators on site can be a problem, especially if they are in classified hazardous areas, it can be considered an Hot Work in hazardous area. No need to plan battery replacement on regular bases in the standard maintenance activities for the plant.
Output torque control is based on worm-shaft axial load monitoring: the axial load on the worm shaft is proportional to the worm gear/stem drive output torque, therefore, if we monitor the axial load on the worm shaft, we monitor the real output torque in real time without any other system in between.
There is no need of data upload/download in case of logic card replacement or motor replacement/rewound as for actuator which are monitoring the electromechanical parameters of the electric motors (Biffi for instance and Limitorque).
(We are mentioning points of differentiation from our competitors and the advantages of our solutions:
long experience on mechanical and electronic parts should communicate to customers the reliability of our actrs,
Our absolute encoder present the “no battery” advantage, it is a very good point: our customer are not obliged to monitor internal battery charge and they do not need to purchase/replace batteries regularly; our absolute encoder does not present the typical problems of absolute encoders like small range of number of turns and low position resolution)
Biffi actuators are monitoring the electromechanical parameters of the electric motors, they have to map the actuator output torque at the various rotating speed (compensating the data with voltage, temp. etc..), since all motors and gearings of the same size/model present small differences/tolerances, all these data (of the torque mapping) are individual of each actuator serial number, therefore they must be downloaded & uploaded in case of replacement of the logic card (the download from old card and upload in new card is not so simple). If we replace/rewound the motor on site they can not map the torque for that individual motor and torque output is calculated with high approximation. )

10. TEC 2000 Electronic Actuator
Key Features
Quite intuitive non-intrusive setting by means of a really user friendly local interface for full actuator setting, control and diagnostic info access:
very large Local Display (the largest or one of the largest in the market).
complete set-up and menu’ navigation by “Yes/No” questions, without opening the actuator and without need of any battery powered handheld device,
all questions & info are given in plain text (no symbols are displayed)
LEDs
IrDA Transmitter & Receiver
Graphic Display
Message Centre (2 lines, 16 characters)
Selector Knob
Control Knob
Easiness of use and water ingress protection are two other very important factors for good operation of electric actuators therefore another big advantage is that electronic control allows easy and non-intrusive actuator set-up (non-intrusive means that we do not need to open any actuator cover to set-up the actuator, in this way we reduce the risk of water ingress inside the actuator, water can seriously damage the actuator electrical/electronic part), through a really user friendly local interface.
Our technicians, while designing the Local control interface and its menu’, they have kept great focus to get a really user-friendly interface:
very large backlit LCD Display, the largest for valve actuator in the market, display text is quite visible on site also with unfavourable light conditions. The window of the display is glass and not plastic, therefore there is not significant degradation of the visibility after years.
we can navigate the menu’ and set up the actuator just replying “YES” or “NO” (by rotating the control knobs/selectors) to simple and clear questions with plain text, no symbols to learn/remember. Our TEC2000 is not intrusive, control knobs are not mechanically connected to the internals, by moving the knobs we just activate internal sensors, sensors based on Hall effect (there are magnets). There is no need of any battery powered handheld device like for Rotork actuators, these devices must be suitable for classified hazardous areas if the actuators are installed in such areas, we have to remember to replace the batteries to have the device ready for use when necessary, we have to be careful not to break it or lose it somewhere.... it can help but it can give problems.... Remote controls (battery powered handheld devices) on the actuator market are working using infrared communication or Bluetooth communication: infrared communication with an electric actuator requires that we are really near to the actuator (Rotork operating range is 0.75 meters from display windows, our arm length....) and that we point the infrared sensor on the actuator, it is not so useful.... Bluetooth allows a much longer distance, no need to point a sensor, but in any case we need to arrive near the actuator to move the local selector in Local/Remote/Stop position as necessary (not so useful...), furthermore Bluetooth devices for Hazardous Areas are quite expensive. Of course a remote control (battery powered handheld device) can be also useful in some condition and we EIM can supply it, we call it “Clicker”, it communicates through an infrared port, but we are convinced that in any case for safety, there must be the possibility to see & set-up actuator parameters also by means of the control knobs on the local interface.
If we can proceed through the menu’ just reading the plain text, without symbols to learn/remember, set-up and data reading is much more simple and intuitive, also the training for site personnel will be much easier.
In case optional back up batteries are mounted it is possible to set-up the actuator even without any external power source: it means, if we have mounted the back-up batteries, that we can set up the actuator in a workshop where we have not the correct power supply or we can set up the actuator also on site in remote areas even if electric power supply is not available. Of course during set-up we have to reach manually the OP/CL positions, but the display and controls will be fully operational.
The local interface with the display, as standard, is mounted near the manual override, but it can be mounted in place of the next control box cover at 90° position, additionally it can be rotated in 90° steps in each mounting position to have totally 8 different mounting positions/orientations to have the local display in a comfortable position on site for operation: Rotork, Biffi or Limitorque can not claim such feature. Furthermore in case the actuator is in a position difficult to be reached, we can supply an additional (and not expensive compared to competition) Remote Display Module which can duplicate the actuator interface in a range of 1,2 Kilometres.
In order to recap: we can set up our EIM TEC2000 actuator by means of the local control knobs/selectors on the local interface, by means of the “Clicker” via the infrared communication port and by means of the RS-485 connection (we have to open the control box) using a PC/PDA, in case we use a PC/PDA it is available the software to download diagnostic data for easier analysis in the office and we can upgrade the firmware's of the electronic control.
Regarding IP68: actuator setting without removing actuator cover to access the controls (non-intrusive set up) is important also to protect the internals, motor, electronics etc. from dust humidity and water in general. Internal parts are factory sealed and there is no need to re-open unless major modifications are needed, but it is important also an high weatherproof protection degree in general: EIM TEC2000 is in IP 68 execution as standard, successfully tested at 15 meters of water for 7 days (168 hours!), it is the longest and deeper test for electric actuator market.
(We have the largest display in the market, glass windows (not plastic like Rotork: in difficult environmental condition we have a degradation of visibility through the plastic), therefore we can claim a good visibility also in bad environmental conditions, Rotork still use some symbols to give info in their display. Rotork actuators can not be set-up without the infrared remote control which must pointed to the display windows at max 75 centimetres only.... It is not user-friendly, remote control must be preserved carefully, it is necessary to check the batteries and replace them regularly.
Also Rotork can perform the actuator set-up just with the internal batteries without power supply available, but Biffi can not.
In EIM actrs we can mount the local display interface and also the terminal board in 8 different mounting positions/orientations to have them a comfortable position on site for operation: Rotork, Biffi or Limitorque can not claim such feature.
Our Remote Display Module can be placed 1.2 Km from the actuator, Biffi can arrive to just meters, Auma 100 meters, furthermore our cost is much lower than for them, we are not sure if Rotork or Limitorque can offer such special optional.
IP 68 standard at 15 meters of water for 7 days (168 hours!): it is the longest and deeper test for electric actuator market: no one of our competitors can give this as standard.)
Set-up is possible also without external power supply in presence of optional back-up batteries.
Local interface can be mounted in 7-8 different positions on the actuator housing, additionally it can be easily duplicated in two additional remote positions (up to 1,2Km) for comfortable access.
Possibility of setting & control by “Clicker” (an IrDA controller) and via RS-485 (PC/PDA) with also possibility of diagnostic data download, software upload via RS-485 (PC/PDA).

11. TEC 2000 Remote Display Module
Duplication of Local Display functions, it is identical
Up to 1.2 km from actuator
Up to two for each actuator
Provides safe, local operations in hazardous areas
Enables positive control of valves from a safe distance in the event of an emergency
As we said above, one of the most important factors for the reliability of an electric actuator is protection from water ingress.
Since commissioning activities (site electrical connections, site tests and installations etc…) can take place in an harsh environment (dust presence, high humidity, sand etc..) and cable glands can be installed not properly, it is better that the internal control system of the actuator is still sealed even when the terminal board cover is removed for the site activities: double sealing protection of terminal board.
To be noted that EIM actuators present a black terminal board with big white terminal numbers with a very high visibility even in difficult site conditions.
EIM design of the manual override requires a low effort on hand-wheel/hand-lever by site personnel for all the actuator models, small hand-wheel/hand-lever size avoids interference problems during installation or manual operation with other parts near the actuator, small hand-wheel/hand-lever size avoids that personnel apply abnormal torques to valve stem.
EIM design of the manual override prevents the use of “cheater bars” or other levers to avoid abnormal torques applied to valve stem and therefore to avoid damages to valve stem.
In case optional back up batteries are installed on board of the actuator, we have the possibility to visually monitor on the display the actuator output torque during manual operation, still to avoid overstress of valve stem.
EIM design of the manual override is such that the clutch/declutch lever works on a low torque (higher speed) shaft: it means that a reasonable effort is necessary to engage/disengage the manual override even with actuators under torque: valve closed by torque, valve blocked under high torque alarm etc.. : in such situations the effort can be too high for hand-wheels acting directly on the valve stem/gear-box input stem.
Also, a manual override acting directly on the valve stem/gear-box input stem can not rely on the actuator irreversibility if the gear box or the valve stem thread can not guarantee the irreversibility.
(We propose double sealing of the terminal board like all our competitors except Auma who can propose also plug socket connection which is a useful execution when regular actuator maintenance is necessary: often mounting and dismounting of the actuator.
The visibility of our terminal board is quite better than for competition: lower installation time, lower installation cost, lower possibility of mistakes etc..
Regarding manual override: competition is claiming that their manual override presents an independent cinematic chain: in case of total gearing failure they can still operate the valve manually by means of the manual override: it is a really unusual event, it must be really a big problem if even the worm-gear/worm-wheel reduction stage can be so damaged not to be able to transmit any torque/movement.. Probably they should work more on the reliability of the worm-gear/worm-wheel reduction stage. To be noted that EIM design is based on the same philosophy of Auma, but EIM actrs do not suffer any damage if, by chance, we engage the manual override while electric motor is running.)

12. TEC 2000 Electronic Actuator
Key Features
Double Sealing Protection of the terminal board (when terminal board cover is opened, internals are still sealed),
primary fuses on terminal board (really non intrusive execution),
terminals are clearly visible in all conditions, terminal board can be mounted in 7 different positions on the actuator housing.
As we said above, one of the most important factors for the reliability of an electric actuator is protection from water ingress.
Since commissioning activities (site electrical connections, site tests and installations etc…) can take place in an harsh environment (dust presence, high humidity, sand etc..) and cable glands can be installed not properly, it is better that the internal control system of the actuator is still sealed even when the terminal board cover is removed for the site activities: double sealing protection of terminal board.
To be noted that EIM actuators present a black terminal board with big white terminal numbers with a very high visibility even in difficult site conditions.
(We propose double sealing of the terminal board like all our competitors except Auma who can propose also plug socket connection which is a useful execution when regular actuator maintenance is necessary: often mounting and dismounting of the actuator.
The visibility of our terminal board is quite better than for competition: lower installation time, lower installation cost, lower possibility of mistakes etc..)

13. TEC 2000 Electronic Actuator
Key Features
IP 68 execution as std (15 meters of water for 7 days).
Manual override (Hand-lever/wheel) with reduction gearing:
low effort on manual override: less than 350N for all the models
output torque still monitored in case electronics is powered on (in case back-up batteries are mounted)
“No cheater bars” design.
the clutch/declutch lever works on a low torque shaft: low effort to engage/disengage even with actuators under torque.
actuator self locking still available during manual operation.
Optional AISI 316 Stainless Steel Hand wheel
EIM design of the manual override requires a low effort on hand-wheel/hand-lever by site personnel for all the actuator models, small hand-wheel/hand-lever size avoids interference problems during installation or manual operation with other parts near the actuator, small hand-wheel/hand-lever size avoids that personnel apply abnormal torques to valve stem.
EIM design of the manual override prevents the use of “cheater bars” or other levers to avoid abnormal torques applied to valve stem and therefore to avoid damages to valve stem.
In case optional back up batteries are installed on board of the actuator, we have the possibility to visually monitor on the display the actuator output torque during manual operation, still to avoid overstress of valve stem.
EIM design of the manual override is such that the clutch/declutch lever works on a low torque (higher speed) shaft: it means that a reasonable effort is necessary to engage/disengage the manual override even with actuators under torque: valve closed by torque, valve blocked under high torque alarm etc.. : in such situations the effort can be too high for hand-wheels acting directly on the valve stem/gear-box input stem.
Also, a manual override acting directly on the valve stem/gear-box input stem can not rely on the actuator irreversibility if the gear box or the valve stem thread can not guarantee the irreversibility.
(Regarding manual override: competition is claiming that their manual override presents an independent cinematic chain: in case of total gearing failure they can still operate the valve manually by means of the manual override: it is a really unusual event, it must be really a big problem if even the worm-gear/worm-wheel reduction stage can be so damaged not to be able to transmit any torque/movement.. Probably they should work more on the reliability of the worm-gear/worm-wheel reduction stage. To be noted that EIM design is based on the same philosophy of Auma, but EIM actrs do not suffer any damage if, by chance, we engage the manual override while electric motor is running.)

14. Actuator – TEC2000 Inputs/Outputs
Input Signals:
Open / Close / Stop (2-wire, 3-wire or 4-wire) (Std)
ESD (Std)
Inhibit/Interlock (Std)
Analogue Position Controllers, 4-20mA input (Optional)
Local Emergency Stop – Hardwired (Optional)
Communication Protocol (Foundation Fieldbus, Hart7, Modbus RTU, Profibus, DeviceNet)
Output signals:
4 programmable output relays (Std)
Monitor relay (Std)
4 additional relays – ARM (Auxiliary Relay Module), Optional
Analog feedback (4-20mA)
Analogue Valve Position Feedback (VPF)
Analogue Valve Torque Feedback (VTF)

15. Actuator – TEC2000
Monitor Relay

16. Actuator – TEC2000

17. Discrete inputs from remote dry contacts
Controls Options
OPEN
DCS
Local Control
OPEN
CLOSE
STOP
Discrete inputs from remote dry contacts
CLOSE
STOP
Discrete inputs from DCS
Remote Control
4-20 mA
Analogue: Modulating Control up to S4-50%, 1200Starts/hour
2-Wire Network: Hart 7, Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus DP, DeviceNet, Modbus
We can now guarantee interoperability between our Emerson DCS and EIM actuators with Foundation Fieldbus or Hart 7 communication protocols (Hart 7 tests running now for Delta V interoperability with PlantWeb).
Emerson Wireless Solution in the near future

18. Petrochem-Refineries
Typical applications
FPSO – Off Shore
Gas Plants
Pipelines
Oil & Gas - Upstream
Tank Farms
Petrochem-Refineries

19. Bluetooth & integration in PlantWeb
Next TEC2000 1A electronic control, will provide advance diagnostic and the possibility to download all diagnostic data via Bluetooth.
But first it’s appropriate to discuss the background of EIM. First established in 1949 by Lynn T. Elliott the company concentrated on the growing oil and gas industries manufacturing many actuators for refineries, pipelines, compressor stations and pumping stations. As the business grew they expanded their product offerings into electric power generating stations, the marine and US Navy markets , water and waste treatments plants and other general industrial markets.
(This slide is to communicate that EIM is in the market since long time like successful companies and that they expanded the range of application where EIM actrs were installed as it happens for successful products / companies).

20. Bluetooth & integration in PlantWeb
Next TEC2000 1A electronic control, will provide advance diagnostic and the future possibility to download all diagnostic data, not only via Bluetooth, but also via Foundation Fieldbus or Hart 7 communication protocols to our DeltaV with integration in PlantWeb.
But first it’s appropriate to discuss the background of EIM. First established in 1949 by Lynn T. Elliott the company concentrated on the growing oil and gas industries manufacturing many actuators for refineries, pipelines, compressor stations and pumping stations. As the business grew they expanded their product offerings into electric power generating stations, the marine and US Navy markets , water and waste treatments plants and other general industrial markets.
(This slide is to communicate that EIM is in the market since long time like successful companies and that they expanded the range of application where EIM actrs were installed as it happens for successful products / companies).

21. Controls on board or not ?
Thermal switch
OPEN position switch
CLOSE position switch
OPEN torque switch
Control cabinet c/w:
control logic
reversing contactors
CLOSE torque switch
Process control system
Blinker (motor running)
OP/CL 3ph supply
Status signals
Local Off Remote OP CL
STOP
Status LED’s
Separate Local Controls
Separate
controls
Input commands
This is the sketch of the two possible executions, above without controls on board of the actuator and with a separate control cabinet by others (out of the scope of supply of the actuator manufacturer) and below the actuator with integral controls (smart control or traditional electromechanical one)
In the following page there are the advantages & disadvantages of the two executions.
Normally in Oil&Gas market separate controls are no more used, separate controls are more common in waterworks market and sometimes in power industry.
Separate control presents an apparent saving in valve actuator purchase, but, if we consider all the aspects, savings are not real.
Please refer to the comments in next page.
(These 2 pages are mainly dedicated to convince customers who are still using “Auma Norm” basic actuators without controls on board)
Integral
controls
Continuous 3ph supply
Input commands
Status signals
Process control system

22. Controls on board or not ?
It may be convenient to use electric actuators without on-board controls in case of :
high levels of vibration
high ambient temperatures
accessibility to the motor operated valve is limited after installation (however intelligent actuators can be supplied with separate control station).
Advantages of electric actuators with integrated controls:
Single responsibility (electric actuator manufacturer) of cabling and actuator control logic.
Full factory test of actuator, control wiring and control logic at actuator manufacturer care and responsibility. After factory test, controls are factory sealed: non-intrusive actuators generally do not need re-opening on site.
Reduced site wiring and reduced testing of wiring and control logic: no bad surprises on site.
Complete and easy factory acceptance test of complete actuated valve.
Direct processing of limit, torque and thermo-switch signals on the actuator.
Controls are dedicated to electric actuators, properly sized and designed according to actuator manufacturer 60 years experience. Standardized control logic: no need to re-invent for every application.
Suggested comments of the speaker:
If there is a problem, no need to investigate if it is a problem of the actuator, of the separate local control or of the site wiring, the actuator manufacturer is the only reference point and with the diagnostic functions of EIM TEC2000 it is possible to find easily where is the problem... if it is a problem of the actuator... (first bullet).
In EIM, electric actuator test is done automatically, test benches are computer controlled. Since EIM TEC2000 foresee a non intrusive set-up, it is not necessary to re-open the actuator in the future unless major modifications are required therefore risks of water ingress is reduced (second bullet).
If actuator and control logic are already wired and tested together in the workshop of the actuator manufacturer, on site we just need to connect the actuator with the electric supply, to wire it with the process control system of the plant and we just need to test these wiring. The automatic phase correction eliminates the possible problems with the electric supply connection (third bullet).
EIM TEC2000 actuators with integral controls can be easily tested and set up in the valve manufacturer workshop just connecting the main (3Ph) power supply (or even without any external power supply in case back-up batteries are mounted), no other equipment is needed for the test for most of the electric actuator configurations. Basic actuators without integral controls need reversing contactors and local controls even for a simple functional test.
Torque limiting device and position switches testing require a local control compatible with the actuator internal wiring. (fourth bullet).
If we have basic actuators without integral controls, in case of over-torque or over-temperature, the related switches inside the actuator are operated, through the wiring the signal from limit switch is sent to the control cabinet (several/some meters far away) where we have the reversing contactors and the control logic which has to power off the reversing contactors to cut electric supply to the actuator, the same at the end of the valve stroke, high temperature.
Actuators with integral controls do the same, but the process take place directly within the actuator enclosure (fifth bullet).
Integral controls on board of EIM TEC2000 are the result of more than 60 years experience with electric actuators, all components are properly sized according to the actuator size, they have been selected for the most challenging site application from tropical environment to Siberian chill and desert environment. EIM TEC2000 flexibility is also the result of many years of control logic solutions to various customers: integral controls and control logic is standardized, but can provide a really wide range of tested solution to any process requirement (sixth bullet).