Pneumatic Actuators

Pneumatic actuators utilise compressed air to generate mechanical motion. This motion can be linear or rotary, depending on the actuator’s design and are typically used on valves such as ball, butterfly and plug valves.

Key Benefits of Pneumatic Actuators

• Reliability – They are highly reliable under harsh industrial conditions, such as extreme temperatures, dust, and vibration.
• Responsiveness – Fast action: Pneumatic actuators offer rapid movements, making them ideal for applications requiring quick response times.
• Intrinsic Safety – Explosion-proof: safe to use in hazardous environments, such as oil refineries or chemical plants, as they don’t involve electricity or generate sparks.
• Energy Efficiency – Unlike electric actuators, pneumatic systems do not require standby power, they consume energy only when they are operating.

Popular Pneumatic Actuator Options at ESI:

• Habonim Compact: Boasting a 7-year warranty, this innovative actuator features a 4-piston design that delivers up to double the torque of competitor 2-piston actuators and has a smaller footprint. This translates to reduced air consumption and lower carbon emissions.
• Fisher 2052 Diaphragm Rotary Actuator: Ideal for throttling or on-off applications on rotary-shaft valves, this compact design ensures greater mounting versatility for both skids and process plants.
• Ebro EB Actuators: Utilising the scotch yoke principle, these actuators precisely match valve torque characteristics, resulting in a smaller size and lower air consumption. The EBRO EB-SYD covers a wide range of applications and comes in 13 sizes.
• Saunders Pneumatic Diaphragm Actuators such as the P345 which delivers reliable performance while reducing your environmental impact by operating on a lower pressure (4.5 bar) compared to traditional models.

Types of Pneumatic Actuators:

• Rack and Pinion: Converts linear piston motion into rotational motion for rotary valves.
• Scotch Yoke: Similar to rack and pinion, but with a different mechanical design.
• Diaphragm: Uses a flexible diaphragm to convert pneumatic pressure into linear or rotary motion.
• Cylinder: Employs a piston and cylinder to generate linear motion.

Applications for Pneumatic Actuators:

• Oil & Gas
• Food & Beverage
• Chemical Processing
• Wastewater Treatment
• Pharmaceutical
• Power Generation and more