Membrane Actuator Valve Positioner Without Pilot Stage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic positioners for process industries face challenges in achieving high pneumatic pressures while maintaining low power consumption, leading to complex and bulky designs due to the use of pilot stages and pressure reducers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dielectric elastomer actuator in membrane topology, known as a membrane actuator, directly controls the pneumatic positioner, eliminating the need for a pilot stage and pressure reducer, thereby reducing energy consumption and system bulkiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a pilot stage and pressure reducer are used to control pneumatic pressure, then high pneumatic pressure can be achieved, but the system becomes complex and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the pilot stage and pressure reducer from the conventional pneumatic positioner system. By directly coupling the control electronics to the pneumatic actuator, the system removes the intermediate pressure control components, thereby achieving high pneumatic pressure without the complexity and bulkiness of traditional multi-stage pressure control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control electronics and pneumatic actuator into a directly coupled integrated system. Instead of separate pilot stage and pressure reducer components, the control unit directly manages the pneumatic pressure, combining functions that were previously distributed across multiple components into a unified system.
2Stress or pressure
If a pilot stage is used to control pneumatic pressure, then high pneumatic pressure can be achieved, but the system consumes more energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the energy-consuming pilot stage from the system. By directly coupling the control electronics to the pneumatic actuator, the system eliminates the intermediate pressure control stage that would otherwise require continuous energy input to maintain pressure regulation, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining high pneumatic pressure capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic actuator system is designed to self-regulate pressure without requiring continuous energy input from a pilot stage. The direct coupling allows the system to maintain pneumatic pressure through its own operational characteristics rather than requiring external energy-driven pressure control mechanisms.
3Stress or pressure
If conventional pneumatic positioners are used, then high pneumatic pressure control is achieved, but the system is bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control electronics and pneumatic actuator into a compact directly coupled system. By eliminating the separate pilot stage and pressure reducer components, the overall system volume is reduced while maintaining the capability for high pneumatic pressure control, resulting in a more compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the bulky pilot stage and pressure reducer components from the system. This extraction of unnecessary components directly reduces the system volume while preserving the essential function of high pneumatic pressure control through the directly coupled architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables a more robust, compact, and energy-efficient pneumatic positioner system with reduced sensitivity to air quality and temperature changes, while maintaining high pneumatic pressure control and low power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The implementation of a dielectric elastomer actuator in membrane topology, known as a membrane actuator, directly controls the pneumatic positioner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A positioner drive for controlling a pneumatic positioner, is described with a membrane actuator, wherein the membrane actuator is configured to be mechanically coupled to a valve of the valve positioner with pneumatic output for controlling the pneumatic positioner.