Countering contaminants

The specific problem solved by Bürkert's ELEMENT range concerns the interface between the valve actuator and the control head - or switch box. In many designs this interface provides a pathway for the ingress of moisture onto the spring (or springs) of the actuator, resulting in corrosion, contamination from biological growth, and impairment of the correct functioning of the actuator itself.

An innovation in valve actuator control on the ELEMENT valve units prevents this from happening. Valve actuator control is achieved by means of integrated pilot valves that can also be operated manually for easy local operation. For each operation, clean and dry control air is deliberately flushed into all areas of the actuator. This ensures that, unlike traditional solutions, ambient air is never drawn into the spring chambers and surrounding voids, extending the valve's reliability and life, at the same time maximising process availability for the valve user.

Bürkert has also deployed new design thinking to provide protection against moisture ingress into the electronics of the control heads on the ELEMENT valves. Protection is required because small but naturally occurring changes in the control head pressure can lead to the penetration of moisture, particularly after a wash down cleaning process.