Environment Agency engineering standards Section 14

Gate and valve actuators Revision: A Issue: 01/09/01

14 Gate and valve actuators

Index

14.1 General 14-3

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14.2 Mechanical 14-3
14.3 Electrical 14-4

British and European standards

BS EN 60529: 1992 Specification for degrees of protection provided by

enclosures (IP code)
BS 88 Cartridge fuses for voltages up to and including
1,000 V a.c. and 1,500 Vt d.c.

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Environment Agency engineering standards Section 14
Gate and valve actuators Revision: A Issue: 01/09/01

Amendments

Revision no. Paragraph no. Date Change

A 1/09/01 First issue in draft for comment

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Environment Agency engineering standards Section 14
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14.1 General

14.1.1 The actuator shall be selected to suit the device being actuated and be equipped
for the type of operation defined in the specification.

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14.2 Mechanical

14.2.1 The actuator shall be watertight, dust-tight and hose-proof complying with the
requirements of BS EN 60529.

14.2.2 Sealing of static joints shall be by ‘O’ ring, with double seals between moving
components to prevent leakage of lubricant from the machine.

14.2.3 The attachment of the actuator output shaft to the drive spindle shall be
detachable.

14.2.4 Drive shafts and threads shall be provided with grease lubrication; rising spindles
being protected with a totally enclosed, grease packed cover tube.

14.2.5 A hand wheel shall be provided for manual operation of the device. To prevent
the hand wheel operating during powered actuator movement, there shall be a
positive means of disconnection from the motor-driven mechanism.

14.2.6 The hand wheel shall be maintained in its engaged position once this is selected.
It shall be possible to ensure hand or powered operation by means of padlocking.

14.2.7 The actuator shall either prevent powered operation when in hand operating mode
or, when powered movement takes place, it shall automatically disconnect and
‘free wheel’.

14.2.8 Flange-mounted pillars shall be provided where it is necessary to present the

actuator hand wheel at a convenient operating height. These pillars shall fully
enclose the necessary shaft extension spindles. Supplementary support of the
extension spindle within its pillar shall be provided for long shafts.

14.2.9 The open/close direction of rotation shall be clearly indicated on the hand wheel.

14.2.10 The maximum operator force required to operate the actuator when fully installed
and operating against the normal maximum design load of the system shall not
exceed 180 N (40 lbf).

14.2.11 The time for a complete stroke of the valve or gate shall be calculated in both
powered and hand-wound operation. In hand winding, it is to be assumed that the
operator will achieve 40 rpm at the maximum operator force. The engineer shall
be supplied with details of the operating times for approval before the order,
manufacture or purchase of equipment.
14.3 Electrical

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Environment Agency engineering standards Section 14
Gate and valve actuators Revision: A Issue: 01/09/01

14.3.1 General

A The actuator shall be suitable for use with the specified electrical supply
voltage, phases and frequency. It shall incorporate local motor control
facilities and terminals for remote control and indication, reversing
contactors and interposing relays.

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B The actuator shall be sized to guarantee valve closure at the specified
differential pressure. The safety margin of motor power available for seating
and unseating the valve shall be sufficient to ensure torque switch trip at
maximum value of torque with the supply voltage 10% below nominal. The
operating speed shall be such as to give valve closing and opening at
approximately 250–300 mm/minute unless otherwise stated.

C The actuator shall be capable of functioning in an ambient temperature

ranging from –20°C to +40°C.

D Internal wiring shall be heat resistant (85°C), PVC-insulated stranded cable

of 5 A minimum rating for control circuits and of an appropriate size for the
motor (but not less than 5 A rating). All wires shall be identified clearly with
a number at each end. All terminals shall be to British standard, with the
motor terminals being segregated by means of a separate insulating cover.
The terminal compartment shall be designed so that actuator electrical
components are protected from moisture ingress while the terminal cover is
removed for on-site wiring.

E The unit shall be fitted with an internal heater of adequate rating that can be
controlled to maintain internal temperature and humidity within safe limits
over a range of ambient temperatures from –20°C to +70°C and high
humidity. Absorption crystals shall be enclosed during delivery and
installation, but removed after commissioning.

F The heater shall be connected as soon as possible and, in any event, before
commissioning of the unit.

G The actuator shall be supplied with all cable entries sealed with metal plugs.

H Although the hydraulic design will be such as to safeguard the equipment

against flooding under normal conditions, the actuator may be drowned
under accidental conditions. All actuators must, therefore, be capable of
being occasionally immersed, ingress-protected to IP67, and be capable in
that condition of driving in the valve or penstock.

14.3.2 Electric motor

A The electric motor shall be an induction motor, class B. It shall beinsulated

with a short time rating of 15 minute at 40°C or twice the valve stroking
time, whichever is the longer, at an average load of at least 33% of the

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Gate and valve actuators Revision: A Issue: 01/09/01

maximum valve torque.

B Overload protection shall be such as to reflect accurately the thermal

conditions of the motor under any fault condition including single phasing,
symmetrical overload, earth fault and mechanical stalling. Overload
protection shall be integral with the unit.

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14.3.3 Control gear

A Unless otherwise specified, the control voltage shall be 24 V a.c.

B The control transformer shall be 24 V with an earthed inter-winding screen

and one leg of the transformer earthed via a removable link. The transformer
shall be suitably rated to provide the inrush and holding current of the
contactor coil without undue fall in voltage and also be capable of supplying
any other relevant equipment and pilot lamps. Adequate electrical protection
shall be provided by means of a suitably rated BS 88 fuse and the earthed leg
shall be fitted with a removable link.

C Control gear shall be of adequate size and rating. The reversing contactors
shall be mechanically and electrically interlocked, with operating coils
suitable for 24 V a.c.

D A phase discriminator device shall be fitted to prevent incorrect rotation due

to any external reversal of phase connections from any cause.

E Provision shall be made to incorporate the following relays:

E.1 Interposing relays with coils suitable for 24 V d.c. and two normally
open and two normally closed electrically separate contacts suitable for
110 V. Five amp a.c. shall be provided for open, close and stop
functions.

E.2 Monitor relay with coil suitable for 24 V a.c. and two normally open
contacts. So that remote supervision of availability is possible, the relay
is to be energised via the remote position of the selector switch and
arranged to de-energise in the event of loss of motor or control
supplies, motor thermostat trips, operation of the local stop button,
phase rotation monitor (where fitted).

F A selector switch shall be provided to give:

• local control
• off – no electrical operation possible
• remote control – with local stop only available.

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G The selector switch shall be lockable by means of padlocking in any position.

H Local control on the body of the actuator (or adjacent to it) shall be provided
for open, close and stop.

I The following torque/limit switches shall be provided as minimum

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requirements:

• closing travel limits

• opening travel limits
• closing intermediate working position limits
• opening intermediate working position limits

J All limit switches shall be readily adjustable and should be automatically

self-resetting if the actuator is removed and then replaced. All switch contact
ratings should be at least 5 A at 415 V a.c. and 0.2 A at 250 V d.c. The range
of adjustment should be stated for each switch. Means shall also be provided
to prevent the open torque switch tripping while the initial unseating hammer
blow effect is applied.

K Actuators shall include a current transmitter operating over a two wire

system for remote position indication. The current signal from the system
shall be in the range 4–20 mA d.c. The remote supply voltage shall be in the
range 24–50 V d.c. and have a maximum line impedance of 750 ohms.

L Any potentiometers shall be designed for use in industrial power and not for
radio or electronics use. They shall be capable of sustaining continuously the
load generated under rest conditions at any position. The mechanical travel
design shall be such as to allow 10% of total movement unused at either end
of the travel.

M Any limitations between the actuator and the remote controls shall be stated
clearly. Details of remedies and their cost shall be given.

14.3.4 Wiring diagrams and technical details

A Wiring diagrams shall be supplied with all actuators. These shall include a
transparency of the diagram for each actuator along with three copies of
technical literature. In addition, two prints of the wiring diagram and
technical literature shall be supplied with the quotation.

B A list of recommended spares suitable for a period of five years shall be

provided.

C All special tools required to carry out maintenance shall be provided with the
actuator.

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