Pneumatic Automation Explained by the ValveMan Valve Store

What is pneumatic automation and--ultimately--how do pneumatic valves work? Well, our blog covers all types of information about valves, the valve industry, and the industries that valves serve. Sometimes very technical, other times less. Today, I am going to talk about the less technical, I am going to focus on pneumatic (air) actuation.

The two most common valves types are linear (go up and down) such as gate and globe valves and rotary (quarter turn) such as a ball or butterfly valves. The quarter turn valves usually move between the open and closed position by moving the stem 90 degrees. The majority of valves that are pneumatically actuated are rotary valves.

The primary principle behind quarter turn actuation is a rack and pinion. This is where a shaft with teeth in it interfaces with a pinion that also has teeth (like gears). When the rack moves, the piston therefore moves in a 90 degree rotation, which is attached to a valve stem such as a ball or butterfly valve. This mechanical linkage between the rack and pinion, is what actuates the valve (moves the valve open or closed).

Sometimes there are springs on the opposite side of the shaft which will push the valve back to its original position. In the case of lack of pressure inside of the actuator, the springs will return the rack back to its original position. These “Spring Return pneumatic actuators” are very common when the valve needs to fail in a certain position. The most popular configuration for these types of valves and actuator packages is “Air to Open (ATO), Valves Fails Closed” on loss of air pressure.

The other type of actuator is a Double Acting Actuator. The type of actuator needs to have air pressure on both sides of the piston to push it back and forth. This air pressure in turn opens or closes the valve. Double Acting Actuators are often referred to as ‘air-to-open’, ‘air-to-close’.These valve and actuator packages will “fail in place” with loss of air pressure.

A popular accessory to be added to these actuated valve packages are limit switches. Limit switches gives a conformation electrical signal back to a PLC or DCS that a valve is in fact open or closed. Please check out our blog post “What is a limit switch?” to learn more. The ValveMan Valve Store carries a wide array of quarter turn valves- butterfly and ball valves. Make sure to check them out!