Anti-surge control valve - Quick opening
I have to purchase anti-surge control valves which require an opening stroke time of 2 sec. max.
The valves are globe+cage type with spring-diaphragm actuator (fail-open) with a "flow tends to open" plug.
The valve supplier propose me two ways to achieve the fast opening feature :
option 1 : a quick exhaust valve to speed up the valve opening ensured by the spring return
option 2 : an air booster to increase the supply pressure to the actuator
What is the more appropriate solution for anti-surge application ?
In addition, is there any trap or hint in the selection of anti-surge control valve ?
The most appropriate method of control depends on how you want the valve to act.
If
you need the valve to stoke fully open on 'trip' within two seconds but
do not require modulating control within the two seconds then a
separate high capacity solenoid can be used as a dump valve to evacuate
the actuator and a standard positioner can be used for control once the
valve is fully open.
If you require control modulation in 2
seconds then the first step would be to select a high capacity
positioner which may meet the speed requirements(Masoneilan 7400-200 is a
high capacity pneumatic unit, there are high capacity electropneumatic
positoners available). Depending on how accurate you wish to control,
flow boosters and/or quick exhaust valves can be used (boosters/exhaust
valves tend to increase overshoot on position)
The speed
achievable depends on the volume of the actuator and the stroke of the
valve - the higher the volume & stroke, the more boosters etc will
be required.
Depending on the fluid and duty you need to be aware
of auto-refrigeration (Joule-Thompson effect)which will reduce the
valve operating temperature. Many anti-surge valve have low design
temperatures because of this effect.
Selecting anti-surge valve is not a big deal, because all manufacturers will promise you the moon.
Solution
with boosters is giving us a big trouble, with opening times over 10
sec in control, while no problem in opening in less than 1 sec through
the solenoid.
Moreover valves get stuck if closed 100% and we had surge twice already, thanks must be to to ESD push-botton.
I
strongly suggest you to specify in data sheet that opening time in less
than 2 sec is in CONTROL mode, not only in trip mode. Expedite the
manufacturer many times and put in the spc that they must prove the
opening time via controller at their factory and at the final location.
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