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Temperature Control Valves

Most types of steam equipment need to utilize some form of temperature control system. In process
equipment, product quality is often dependent upon accurate temperature control, while heating systems
need to be thermostatically controlled in order to maintain optimum comfort conditions. From an energy
saving point of view, controlling the steam energy supply to a process piece of equipment to maintain the
desired product temperature, whether air or any product, is mandatory. If process systems are not controlled
to the desired temperatures then the system will run “wild” either not providing the required heat energy or
over heating the product to unacceptable levels. A very important item to remember in the use of
temperature control valves on systems is that in order to regulate the heat energy transferred to the process
the control valve effectively regulates not only the flow rate of energy in kilos or pounds per hour, but, also
accomplishes temperature control by regulating the saturated steam pressure/temperature levels admitted
to the process heat exchange equipment. Temperature control can be accomplished by several methods
and valves:

Manual Control Valves

Manual valves can be applied to a piece of equipment to control the energy supplied to the process as
simply as they are used to regulate the flow of other fluids. The major drawback of manual valves to control
temperatures is that these valves will undoubtedly need frequent adjustments and monitoring to maintain
just the correct temperatures under constantly changing load conditions, which is the case of most pieces of
process equipment.

Information from Spirax Sarco used with permission

© 2011 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Self Acting Control Valves

Self-Acting Control Valves are operated by a sensor system that senses the product temperatures, causing
a heat sensitive fluid to expand or contract based on the product temperature transferring heat energy to the
sensors fluid. This expansion and contraction of the heat sensitive fluid is transmitted up through a capillary
tubing arrangement and the respective expansion and contraction of the fluid applies or relieves pressure to
a valve head, causing the valve head to move. This movement allows the control valve to throttle the steam
flow to the equipment. These control systems are calibrated by the amount of heat sensitive fluid to control
within a given temperature range and can be set to any temperature between the upper and lower limits by
means of an adjustment knob.

Information from Spirax Sarco used with permission

© 2011 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Pilot Operated Temperature Control Valves

Pilot Operated Temperature Control Valves operate on a similar design except instead of operating the
control valve head movement directly, these units only control a small pilot device which in turn operates the
main valve for throttling of the steam flow. Since on this device the heat sensitive fluid only operates a very
small valve mechanism, which in turn operates the main throttling device, the sensing system is much
smaller in physical size. These systems tend to control the required temperatures much closer to the desired
levels and if and when a load change requirement occurs, the pilot operated valves are able to respond to
these changes much more rapidly.

The normal position before starting up the system is with the main throttling valve closed and the pilot valve
held open by spring force. Entering steam passes through the pilot valve into the diaphragm chamber and
out through the control orifice. Control pressure increases in the diaphragm chamber, which opens the main
valve. As the product being heated approaches the pre-selected desired temperature, the heat sensitive
fluid in the sensor bulb expands through the capillary tubing into the bellows and throttles the pilot valve. The
control pressure maintained in the diaphragm chamber positions the main valve to deliver the required
steam flow. When heat is not required, the main valve closes tight to provide dead end shut off. The
temperature setting can be changed by turning the calibrated adjustment dial on the pilot. This type of
temperature control is known as “modulating control”, since the steam supply is gradually increased or
decreased in response to any variation in the temperature of the medium being heated. Remember that this
means that the steam pressure in the heating equipment can and will vary from relatively high
pressure/temperature when the valve is wide open to practically nothing, or even potentially in vacuum
conditions. NOTE: A vacuum can form as the residual steam in the coil or heat exchanger equipment
condenses because the closed valve prevents any further steam from entering. The most common
occurrence is coils and/or heat exchanger equipment running in vacuum, doing more work than what they
were designed for, greater product flows through the equipment causing the steam to be condensed faster
than it can be admitted.

Information from Spirax Sarco used with permission

© 2011 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Pneumatic Control Valve

Pneumatic Control Valves are also pilot operated valves in that they receive their control signals from an
external sensing system, converting this temperature signal into either a compressed air signal to actuate
(throttle) the valve or from a temperature signal to an electrical signal (4-20 mA) which then regulates a
compressed air signal to the valve actuator. Sensitivity and response time to changes of load condition are
enhanced with this type of valve system. Another benefit of using this arrangement of control system is the
ability to observe the valves opening position externally by either an indicator on the valve stem or by the
compressed air signal applied to the actuator.

The deciding factors for the selection of the proper control valve system for a specific application is certainly
the degree of accuracy required on the product’s temperature and the response time to load changes if
there are any.

Information from Spirax Sarco used with permission

© 2011 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.

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