Actuator:Sluice gate
Actuator:Sluice gate
(OP)
Hi there,
We are specifying 84" x 144" sluice gates in one of our projects and we expect very high torque and thrust required for the actuator to pull up the gate under a head of 40ft water. What type/brand of electric actuators do you suggest?
Thanks
We are specifying 84" x 144" sluice gates in one of our projects and we expect very high torque and thrust required for the actuator to pull up the gate under a head of 40ft water. What type/brand of electric actuators do you suggest?
Thanks





RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
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RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
Have you considered a hydraulic piston actuator? Or does the spec require electric?
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
However, hydraulic actuators can be tall. If there is a height issue, electrics may be the way to go.
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
Hydraulic actuators are not allowed in most water treatment application because of the possibility of contamination and housekeeping considerations. Therefore we are bound to use electric actuators.
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
What actuator are you using now?
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
I see what you are saying; that's true.Thanks.
aticooper,
Air is clean but the air cylinder to handle huge thrust load has to be very big.
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
What is the thrust required?
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
With the valve open, the lead screw will have to pass through the electric actuator and stick up into the air. (probably inside a fixed protection tube)
So you can have a 144" stroke cylinder, or a 144" long ACME- threaded actuating screw.
A pneumatic cylinder will presumably run on your plant air system, so typically that means you can have 80 psi you can count on.
A hydraulic actuator typically draws from a 1500 psi system,
So the relative areas of the pneumatic vs hydraulic are almost 20:1 (or a 4.3:1 diameter ratio, neglecting the (important) cross-sectional area of the actuating rod)
If you need fail action, you can use a pneumatic accumulator about the size of a tank car, or a hydraulic accumulator which would be much smaller, or you could use an electrical failsafe which would be basically batteries and an inverter, and comparatively quite compact.
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
I agree that hydraulics are a housekeeping problem but that relates to "hydraulic systems". One option you may want to consider is a hybrid unit where the controls and power to the unit is electrical and the actuator is a sealed self-contained hydraulic unit. Check out www.rexa.com
Regards,
ABScott
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
We're fitting a Rexa unit to one of our gas turbines as a trial replacement for the pneumatic IGV actuator. Do you have any experience of the Rexa products? I'm looking for any operation pitfalls or weaknesses which Rexa clearly won't be publicising.
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: Actuator:Sluice gate
We mount them on large globe valves for power plants and pipelines where large pneumatic actuators do not provide the precise control necessary. They are expensive -- but provide very accurate control. We haven't had any problems as far as I know.
Regards,
ABScott