New markets and applications anticipated for Schischek damper and valve actuators

For over 30 years Schischek has been supplying electric explosionproof products for building services and HVAC applications in many industries, including onshore and offshore oil and gas, refineries, chemical plants, laboratories, pharmaceuticals, water treatment and ship building. The recent acquisition of the company by the Rotork group of flow control companies presents new opportunities for both organisations. Whilst the addition of the Schischek range enables Rotork to increase its activity in hazardous and non-hazardous area HVAC markets, Schischek actuators also fill a gap in Rotork’s product range which is applicable to small valves and opens up new market areas, especially in the processing industries.

Schischek manufactures electric actuators for quarterturn and linear valve and damper operation, each available with a spring-return failsafe capability and with ‘Ex’ or ‘Red’ explosionproof or ‘In’ non-explosionproof enclosure specifications. A combination of designation and colour coding for Schischek products defines the appropriate hazardous or safe area of application to avoid any mistakes. For example, the Max range of quarter-turn actuators is available as the ExMax and painted yellow, indicating suitability for ATEX zones 1, 2, 21 and 22. The RedMax version, painted red, is suitable for ATEX zones 2 and 22; the InMax version, painted green, is only suitable for non-hazardous safe areas.

The Max range is manufactured in two body sizes for quarter-turn operation at output torques between 5 and 150 Nm with an on-site selectable stroke time of 3, 15, 30, 60 or 120 seconds. The selectable stroke time is one of a number of options that are built into the standard product, including the adaptable power supply and choice of on/off, three- position or modulating control. For position signalling and feedback a 4-20mA or 0-10V supply can be utilised, whilst two end of travel auxiliary position switches are optionally available.

For failsafe operation in either direction an integral spring return version is available for output torques up to 60Nm, which can be programmed to operate with a 1, 3, 10 or 20 second stroke time. In its failsafe version the actuator is available with SIL2 safety integrity level approval. Max actuator duties in explosionproof environments include dampers for smoke, temperature or fire protection and the operation of ball and butterfly valves, typically in sizes up to 50mm (2 inches).

For linear on/off, three-way or regulating control, Run actuators offer an output torque range of 500 to 10,000N and stroke lengths between 5 and 60mm. Up to five running times between 2 and 15 seconds per millimetre are selectable on-site, together with the selfadaptable power supply and choice of position signal and feedback supply. The Run actuator is not available in a linear failsafe configuration, but this function is achieved by the combination of a Max actuator andLin gearbox. The Lin converts the actuator’s quarterturn output into a linear stroke, selectable at lengths between 10 and 42mm.

Customers supply Schischek actuators to endusers as a packaged valve or damper, including all necessary adaptation parts and accessories. In many cases valvemakers free-issue products to Schischek workshops at subsidiaries or agents, where actuation and factory testing can take place locally, prior to shipment to site.

Both Schischek and Rotork are known for manufacturing products of the highest quality and reliability. These products complement each other and will enable Schischek to significantly extend its offering in the HVAC market, supported by Rotork’s worldwide presence.

Rotork’s rack and pinion pneumatic actuators are one example of a product that gives Schischek the ability to increase its offering to encompass electrical sensors and monitoring equipment with electric and pneumatic actuation. In another scenario, Rotork’s range of larger explosionproof electric actuators can be used with Schischek actuators to increase versatility and scope of supply. Motorway tunnels in Melbourne, Heathrow Airport’s T5 terminal and the London Olympic Village are just three of many locations where Rotork IQ intelligent electric actuators are used for fire control and HVAC applications. Power stations are another area of activity, where large linear and rotary Rotork electric and pneumatic actuators are used for applications including the modulating control of inlet and draft dampers for boiler combustion control.

At the other end of the size range, Rotork’s abilities in the process industries will benefit from the option of using Schischek electric actuators to control small linear valves requiring up to 10kN operating force and quarter-turn valves with torque requirements up to 150Nm. By providing isolating and modulating control with a failsafe function, these products sit neatly below Rotork’s ranges of control valve actuation products, including CVA and CMA electric actuators, broadening the scope of supply in plants containing large and small bore pipework and introducing the option of an all electric solution in every area of the process.

Schischek Ltd
Tel: 01245-256007
www.schischek.co.uk

Published: 23rd September 2014