Pioneer Industrial offers a wide range of mechanical actuators so you have the equipment you need for your unique systems.
Convert Energy into Motion With Hydraulic, Pneumatic, and Electric Actuators
Linear actuators perform important functions in any system. For industrial processes, an actuator is a device that operates valves, dampers, fluid couplings, and other mechanical equipment. They exist to make sure the system works as designed and their performance, or lack of it, can impact many aspects of an industrial plant’s operations.
All actuators, regardless of design, should be able to:
- Provide precise, repeatable positioning
- Start and stop instantaneously without delay
- Operate without limitations on the number of starts per minute
- Perform reliably unaffected by load
- Operate in different environments with minimal periodic maintenance
Industrial actuators can use air, hydraulic fluid, or electricity to operate. This blog will compare common linear actuator types, what they are used for, and their common advantages and disadvantages.
Pneumatic Actuators
These actuators operate through compressed air acting on a piston or paddle while a spring or a second action of compressed air will reverse the piston or hold its position. Pneumatic actuators are useful in areas of extreme temperatures.
Advantages
- Low initial cost.
- Simple design.
- Accurate, repeatable linear motion.
- Safe operation due to no motors that would create magnetic interference.
- Lightweight designs reduce cost and material use.
- Minimal maintenance when constructed from durable materials.
Disadvantages
- Pressure loss translates to less efficiency.
- Compressor limitations means that actuators that operate at lower pressures will also be slower. Compressors must be running constantly even if the actuator is not.
- Pneumatic actuators must be sized correctly for the job they are intended to do, which raises costs and increases complexity.
- Air can become contaminated with oil and lubrication, which can damage components.
Hydraulic Actuators
Hydraulic actuators operate through pressurized oil activated by a motor. They can be closely integrated to driven elements like valves and dampers. In this case they are commonly referred to as assemblies.
Advantages
- Rugged design means they are suited for high-force applications. Hydraulic actuators can produce 25 times the amount of force than a similarly-sized pneumatic actuator.
- Hydraulic actuators can be located away from the valve without much loss of power.
- Since fluids are incompressible, hydraulic actuators can hold force and torque without a pump
Disadvantages
- Hydraulics can leak fluid, which leads to less efficiency and possible contamination.
- These are more expensive to purchase and maintain because they include companion parts like pumps, fluid reservoirs, release valves, heat exchangers, noise reducers, and motors.
- Oil used in hydraulic operations can pose a fire hazard, making this type unsuitable for some industrial applications.
Electric Actuators
This type uses an electric motor and gear reduction to produce force that operates the valve or damper.
Advantages
- Electric actuators offer the most precise control and repeatability.
- Setups are quiet and smooth compared to pneumatic and hydraulic models.
- Electric actuators offer immediate feedback and diagnostics, which means they can be accurately monitored and reprogrammed.
- Higher control means the actuator can be reconfigured to handle different loads that require different force, torque, and positions.
- No fluid leaks means fewer components can be damaged.
Disadvantages
- Initial costs are higher due to design and electrical systems needing to be modified to accommodate the actuator.
- Continuously running motors can overheat and increase wear on the system.
- Electric actuators are not designed for all environments.
Pioneer Industrial Will Help You Choose the Right Actuator for Your Needs
The choice of actuator is important to precise and uninterrupted process control. This is why Pioneer Industrial takes great care to make sure the actuators you choose are adequate for what you need them to do. We partner with industry-leading actuator manufacturers, so we have a ready solution if you need replacement parts, are looking to upgrade an existing system, or need to build a new industrial process from scratch.
Years of dedicated experience working with line valves and actuators has made Pioneer a trusted authority on this kind of equipment. Our service options allow your business the ability to improve equipment performance, ensure all moving parts are working as intended, and inspect each actuator to make sure they haven’t deteriorated over time. Call Pioneer Industrial today for the latest actuators, industrial valves, and related equipment and maintenance.
