In the fields of engineering and automation, we often encounter the term “actuator.” An actuator is a key component that plays a central role in converting energy into mechanical motion.
what does actuator mean
Sometimes, to answer what the function of an actuator is, this process can be compared to the functions of the human body. Just as muscles in the body can convert energy into some form of movement (such as movement of the arms or legs), actuators work within machines to perform mechanical actions.
It is the component that causes the system to perform work, typically by converting one form of energy into another. Actuators are indispensable in various industries that require precise control of mechanical systems, such as robotics, aerospace, automotive, and industrial automation.
Different Types of Actuators
Actuators come in various forms, each type having specific uses depending on the application. Actuators are mainly divided into two major categories: types of motion and power sources.
Types of Actuator Motion
Actuators can be classified into linear or rotary based on their type of motion. Linear actuators produce linear motion along a straight line, while rotary actuators produce rotary motion along a circular path.
Linear actuators
Linear actuators move objects along a straight line and use belts and pulleys, racks and pinions, or ball screws to convert the rotation of an electric motor into linear motion. Linear actuators stop at a fixed linear distance and are known for their high repeatability and positioning accuracy, ease of installation and operation, low maintenance, and ability to withstand harsh environments. These actuators are commonly used in fields such as food processing, automotive, and material handling to perform tasks such as pushing, pulling, lifting, and positioning.
Advantages:
- Direct Drive
- Space Saving
- Easy to Install
Rotary Actuators
Rotary actuators convert energy into rotary motion through a shaft to control the speed, position, and rotation of equipment. These actuators have continuous rotation motors and are widely used. Electric motors are rotary actuators driven by electrical signals. They feature high torque, constant torque throughout full-angle rotation, compatibility with various diameters, hollow shaft with no backlash, doubled output power, low maintenance costs, and the ability to achieve any angle of rotation. Rotary actuators are used in medical equipment, radar and surveillance systems, robots, flight simulators, the semiconductor industry, specialized machinery manufacturing, and defense.
Advantages:
- High Torque and Power Output
- Precise Control Capability
- Broad Application Adaptability
Types of Actuator Power Sources
Another major classification of actuators is based on their power source, which mainly includes the following types:
Electric Actuators: Use electrical energy as the power source and are driven by motors, suitable for applications requiring precise control and rapid response.
Advantages:
- Precise control capability
- Fast response speed
- Low maintenance cost
Pneumatic Actuators: Use compressed air as the power source, suitable for applications requiring explosion-proofing and operation in harsh environments.
Advantages:
- Fast response speed
- Relatively low cost
- Suitable for harsh environments
Hydraulic Actuators: Use hydraulic oil as the power source and can generate enormous force, suitable for heavy machinery and industrial applications.
Advantages:
- High load capacity
- High precision and stability
- High reliability
Thermal Actuators: Utilize thermal energy converted into mechanical energy, suitable for specific high-temperature environments or applications requiring temperature control.
Advantages:
- High efficiency
- Small size but powerful driving force
- Strong adaptability
Solar Actuators: Use solar energy as the power source, suitable for remote areas or applications requiring environmentally friendly energy sources.
Advantages:
- Environmentally friendly and uses renewable energy
- Improves energy capture efficiency
- Strong adaptability and easy to integrate
Each type of actuator has its unique advantages and limitations, and the appropriate actuator should be chosen based on specific application requirements and environmental conditions.
what is an actuator used for
Actuators, as a core component in industrial automation and control systems, have a wide range of applications across various industries and fields.
1. Process Control
Actuators play a crucial role in the production process control of industries such as chemical, petrochemical, mold, food, pharmaceutical, and packaging. They perform precise positioning, starting and stopping, opening and closing, and rotation of valves, cutting tools, pipelines, baffles, slides, and platforms according to established logical instructions or computer programs. Actuators adjust the system based on real-time parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow, and size detected by the system, achieving control of intermittent, continuous, and cyclic processing.
2. Power Plants
In the power industry, typical applications of actuators include damper blades for air intake in thermal power, air preheater damper blades, and flue gas recirculation bypass damper blades. Additionally, they are used to control large hydraulic valves, gas control valves, and steam control valves for igniter start-up in burners.
3. Industrial Automation
Actuators regulate and control the motion points of various automated equipment and systems in a wide range of industrial automation fields, including aviation, aerospace, military, machinery, metallurgy, mining, transportation, and building materials. For example, in sulfur production, actuators are used for water injection flow control and ball valve and butterfly valve control.
4. Water Treatment
In the water treatment sector, actuators are applied to flow control of liquids, pressure control of pressure reducing valves, and flow control of acid solutions.
5. Lime/Cement Plants
In lime and cement plants, actuators are used for control of ball or butterfly valves, handling dry cement, gypsum, or liquids, air intake and exhaust fans, and regulating type damper blades and bypass damper blades.
6. Grain Processing Plants
In grain processing plants, actuators are applied to sluice gates, diverters, distributors, material unloaders/heaters, dust isolation baffles, and air flow control.
7. Steel Mills
In steel production, actuators are used to control cooling water, waste water, or other cooling media, regulating type damper blades, air intake and exhaust fan bypass damper blades, and sluice gates.
8. Aluminum Plants
In aluminum plants, actuators are applied to air intake damper blades, primary air intake damper blades, air preheater damper blades, flue gas recirculation, and bypass damper blades.
9. Petroleum Industry
In the petroleum industry, actuators are used for flow control in oil injection processes, pressure control of main valves in gas lift pipelines, and flow control in water injection processes.
10. Natural Gas Production and Transportation
In the natural gas production and transportation industry, actuators are used for flow control of gas lift air, pressure control of main valves in gas pipelines, and control of compressor surge.
Actuators are used in almost all situations that require precise control of mechanical motion. They achieve precise control of mechanical equipment by converting different forms of energy, thereby increasing production efficiency and safety. With continuous technological advancements, the application fields of actuators are also expanding, providing strong support for the development of modern industry.