Rotork Actuators For Sewage-Treatment Plant

Profibus network-enabled Rotork IQT intelligent electric actuators have been installed to operate butterfly and plug valves on new pipework at a sewage membrane treatment plant. The upgrade involves increasing the number of membrane packs in each tank to 36, increasing the treatment capacity without exceeding the confines of the existing works' footprint. Automation of the treatment process also enables it to run with increased efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

On each of the membrane plants, the Rotork IQT actuators operate inlet isolation and outlet modulating valves for the sewage, together with air, sodium hypochlorite and wash water-injection valves. Additional IQT actuators control the permeate isolation valves used for automated sequential flushing to maintain membrane efficiency. In total, 51 actuators are installed on each tank to provide automatic sequencing of the sewage treatment, membrane cleaning and backwashing processes. 14 Profibus-DP two-wire networks link the actuators to PLCs in the site's central MCC. These are controlled by a PLC and SCADA system written by Wessex Water's automation team.

The control PLC is a twin CPU configuration, with one dedicated to the control and monitoring of more than 300 actuators, while the other runs the automation process, resulting in the collection of control, status and full diagnostic data from each actuator, without any PLC speed or memory limitations. Diagnostic information is available, locally at the valve or nearby HMI, on the site SCADA system and at the regional operation centre at Bath. Running costs are expected to reduce due to more effective control of the plant.

Hepcomotion Unveils Linear Motion Actuators

Hepcomotion has developed a range of actuators for linear motions systems so that each axis operates optimally and contributes to the overall efficiency and longevity of the system. The Hepcomotion light- and medium-duty X-Y-Z systems are suitable for industrial and scientific applications such as pick and place, automated assembly, inspection and product labelling.

The X-axis foundation of the system is the PDU2 linear actuator, which features Hepcomotion's Herculane wheel technology in a compact belt-driven unit. The Y-axis requires a particularly high load capacity and stiffness against twisting loads. The PDU2M shares the same technology and format as the PDU2 but with moment load capacity improved by 200 per cent and stiffness by 1,000 per cent. The needs of the Z-axis are different again, with enhanced linear force and higher gearing required.

The PSD80 linear actuator is suitable for this duty, with drive from a super-smooth stainless-steel lead screw operating with a bearing polymer nut. It also uses Herculane wheel technology in a unit that is suitably matched to the other axes in terms of performance, size and cost. All units fit together using standard components to create multi-axis systems that are claimed to perform better than similar units where 'general-purpose' actuators are used for all axes. Lightweight aluminium T-slotted profiles allow the axes to be incorporated into frames, such as the Hepcomotion MCS aluminium frame and Machine Construction System, or more complex machines.

Hepcomotion supplies its X-Y-Z systems as individual parts, in kit form, or fully assembled multi-axis units. This type of X-Y-Z configuration will perform for systems with a working envelope of just a few centimetres right up to those with dimensions of several metres. Motors, drives, cables, electrical connectors and a turnkey service can be provided on application.

Vinspec Units Check Bosch Piezoelectric Actuators

Bosch is using six Vinspec automated inspection units from Vitronic to ensure the flawless production of piezoelectric actuators. Bosch's new actuators consist of stacks of special piezoelectric ceramic foils printed with strip electrodes and guide marks to ensure accurate stacking. After printing, a robotic gripper deposits foils on a conveyor. Fast line-scan cameras from Vitronic capture high-resolution images of each as they travel along.

The first Vinspec system inspects these images to identify flaws on foils, such as holes, missing print and bleeding. It also checks the position of the strip electrodes and guide marks. If the foils pass all inspections, they are dried and sent for stacking. Faulty foils are unusable, so Vinspec immediately discards them. Robotic grippers then stack several foils into a block on a positioning table. Accurate stacking is essential to ensure actuators function correctly.

By analysing images acquired by its cameras, the second Vinspec system identifies a foil's guide marks and calculates its position, before instructing the robotic grippers to stack the foils precisely. Completed stacks are laminated, which causes the foils to harden and form solid blocks. Next, a specially coated saw automatically divides the hardened blocks into bars and then into 'raw actuators'. Cutting bars into raw actuators is a delicate process. An incorrect cut can interrupt the strip electrodes and render actuators unusable. The third Vinspec system captures photographic images of foil blocks, measures each bar to the nearest micrometer and coordinates the saw to produce precise cuts.

The fourth Vinspec system inspects the function and quality of the raw actuators before sending them for further processing. Checks include actuator dimensions and electrode position. Only flawless actuators pass to the next production stage. Bosch applies a layer of insulation finish and electrical strip contacts to actuators before installing them into the fuel injectors. Finish must be evenly applied and bubble free. Strip contacts require careful soldering and must be clear of finish.

Defects lead to short circuits, which render actuators unusable. The fifth and sixth Vinspec units monitor these processes and immediately discard faulty actuators. Operators can observe the inspections on monitors at each Vinspec station. Graphical user interfaces mean results, live photographic images and system-status reports are all easily accessible, allowing operators to intervene if they detect production discrepancies. All inspection results are stored, allowing Bosch to produce statistical evaluations and optimise its manufacturing processes.

HMK Incorporates Schaeffler Actuators Into Range

HMK has teamed up with Schaeffler UK to incorporate Schaeffler's INA range of mechanical actuators and driven linear units into HMK's portfolio for the machine building and factory automation markets. For customers, the partnership brings together the bearings knowledge and mechanical engineering expertise of Schaeffler with the systems integration, automation and electro-mechanical expertise of HMK.

HMK's application engineers design, build and commission complete automation systems for OEM machine builders, systems integrators and blue-chip end users, across a range of sectors, including food and beverage, life sciences, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, oil and gas, utilities, quarries and aggregates, plastics and rubber, aerospace and entertainment. HMK's service covers all aspects of electro-mechanical motion control solutions, from consultancy and product supply supported by software development, through to the test and commissioning of complex, engineered projects.

HMK engineers are also able to design and build panels for bespoke projects or serial machine production, as well as tailored mechanical assemblies for part-machine solutions from flange plate interface to complete handling robots. Schaeffler's range includes belt and ballscrew driven linear actuators, linear tables, fasteners, connectors and mounting brackets. INA linear actuator designs are based on either a track roller, recirculating ball monorail (with two, four or six rows of balls) or on a plain guidance system.

These units can be driven by toothed belts for high speed requirements, or by a ballscrew drive, where the principal requirement is for high positional accuracy. The actuators can also be supplied with new corrosion-resistant coatings and materials for harsh operating environments, such as in food and beverage production machines and machine tools. More complex designs include a telescopic version, a quill type with a stationary drive housing and moving support rail, and a tandem design in which a wider support rail accommodates two guidance systems and three toothed belts.

For moving larger masses in one or multiple axes, Schaeffler offers its INA linear tables or stages. These are capable of supporting high torques and are available with ballscrew drives or trapezoidal lead screws. To complement Schaeffler's range of mechanical actuators, the company also offers a range of precision direct-drive solutions including linear, rotary (torque) motors, planar drives, high-performance servo drives and amplifiers.

Rotork Unveils Rompak Electric Actuators

Rotork has introduced the Rompak range of electric actuators to offer the marine industry a lightweight solution for the operation of quarter-turn valves and dampers. The range is designed to enable shipboard valve functions to be set-up, controlled and monitored with the same degree of accuracy and flexibility as the most up-to-date process systems.

The Rompak actuators retain all the mechanical benefits of the original Rotork Rom design, including self-locking gears, manual override, externally adjustable mechanical stops, a wide range of mains power options and an IP67 watertight enclosure. The Rompak actuator adds a self-contained control package with local controls and status indication relays and the option of Rotork Folomatic positional control, current position transmitter, integral data logger, non-intrusive configuration with a Bluetooth wireless interface and digital bus network connectivity.

Network connectivity, which includes Rotork's dedicated Pakscan and the Profibus, Modbus and Foundation fieldbus open protocols, is also configured by Bluetooth, as is the recovery of historical operating data from the data logger for valve diagnostics and maintenance planning. The three actuator sizes in the Rompak range provide operating torques from 35 to 650Nm and are suitable for ambient temperatures of -5 to +60C. In addition to new installations, the actuators can be retrofit to existing valves using Rotork's Site Services organisation.

Hytrol Uses Tolomatic Rodless-Style Actuators

Tolomatic is supplying rodless-style actuators to Hytrol Conveyor Company, a producer of conveyor systems, as a space-saving solution. Engineers at Hytrol needed a space-saving solution for designing a diverter for an overhead pull-off system that would divert 150lb boxes to a different conveyor line.

Manufacturing and packaging facilities may move and sort tons of bulk on conveyors, but the sorters, diverters and pull-offs that route products to their next destination must be as trim as possible to make the most of valuable floor space. Jackie Smith, application engineer at Hytrol, said: 'Our conveyors are used to move products down the line, divert them to the next station in the manufacturing process or, if a product is defective, divert them to a reject line.

'When we needed to design a diverter that was more compact and could be simply integrated into our systems, we decided that we needed to employ a different type of actuator.'.

Rotork IQPro Actuators Used By Skarvik 1 Project

Rotork has announced how it has supplied more than 80 ATEX-approved IQPro intelligent electric actuators with factory fitted Profibus cards for the Vopak Skarvik 1 project in Gothenburg. Skarvik 1 is a fully automated petroleum tank storage project 10 new tanks are being constructed and a PLC-controlled SCADA system installed to enable Class 1 hazardous products including petroleum to be pumped to and from any location on the site. Rotork's actuators will take on flow control duties throughout the site, operating gate valves on the tanks and on a new main manifold and pipe rack that will distribute the products around the plant.