NRC MOV Course

MOV Controls

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 MOV Controls
Objectives
• Describe the operation and standard electrical
circuits for both torque and limit controlled valves.
• Describe the electrical and mechanical components
that make up typical motor actuator controls.
• Determine proper motor actuator control switch set
points.

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Limitorque Electrical Controls

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 Typical Wiring Diagram

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 Components
• Power Supply – supply the energy required to
operate the MOV
• Motor – converts electrical power to mechanical
power. Reversing any two leads will reverse the
direction of motor rotation.
• Overload Heater Coils (Thermal Overload Relays)
– protect the motor in the event of excessive motor
current.
• Reversing Starter – two separate functions
– Interchange power leads which change the direction
of motor rotation
– Provide mechanical and electrical interlocks that
prevent the contacts for both directions being closed
at the same time

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 Components - Continued
• Control Transformer – reduce the control voltage
to a lower and safer level
• Stop Pushbutton – breaks the control circuit,
causing starter dropout and halting actuator function
• Open and Close Pushbuttons – initiate operation
of the control circuit, which results in energizing the
actuator motor
• Seal-in Contacts – allows the pushbuttons to be
released without having the actuator stop
• Remote/Local Switch – determines the location of
control for the actuator, either local or remote

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 Components - Continued
• Overload Contacts – protect the circuit from an
overload condition by interrupting the control circuit
• Electrical Interlock Contacts – part of the
contactor auxiliary contacts, prevent both the open
and close contactors from operating at the same
time
• Lights – provide approximate valve position
information to plant operators

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 Geared Limit Switch
• The geared limit switch counts the rotation of the
drive sleeve or worm shaft in order to keep track of
valve position.
– Shut off power to the actuator motor at the proper
stroke position
– Turn indicating lights on and off and the proper stroke
position
– Provide electrical interlocks and bypasses as required

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 Standard Limit Switch

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 Four-Train Limit Switch

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 Limit Switch Control Functions

(View From Bottom

of the Limit Switch)

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 Limit Switch Setting
• Each rotor is set separately for a particular valve
stroke position
• The valve must be moved to the desired stroke
position and then the limit switch rotor set.

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 End View of Rotors

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 Limit Switch Conditions

(View From Bottom

of the Limit Switch)

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 Torque Switch
The torque switch has two possible functions
• On torque controlled valves, it is used to ensure that
the valve has sufficient torque applied to the valve
stem to guarantee seating
• On limit controlled valves, it is used to ensure that
the actuator and valve are protected from possible
excessive torque

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 Leaf Type Torque Switch

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 Knee Type Torque Switch
(Old Style)

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 Knee Type Torque Switch
(New Style)

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 Actuator Motors
• High rated starting torque
– Sized to provide the the torque required by the valve
– Delivers this torque over a relative short time period
• Short duty cycle
– For ac – 15 minutes
– For dc – 5 minutes
• Totally enclosed non-ventilated (TENV)

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 Typical ac Motors
• Three phase, 230/460 VAC, squirrel cage induction
motors
• Factory lubricated sealed bearings
• Three insulation classes
– Class B – 125°C, mild environment
– Class RH – 175°C, harsh environment
– Class LR – 250°C, very high temperature, harsh
environments
• Three speeds – 900, 1800, 3600 rpm

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Typical ac Motor
Performance
Curve

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 Typical dc Motors
• 125/250V dc compound-wound motors
• A compound-wound motor is a compromise
between
– Shunt-wound motor – good speed regulation
– Series-wound motor – higher starting torque, but poor
speed regulation
• Motor speed is inversely related to torque. Speed
may be 2300 rpm at no load and 1550 at 20% load.

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Typical dc Motor
Performance
Curve

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 Rotork Electrical Controls

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 Rotork Components
• Motor – Three phase, 220 VAC, squirrel cage
induction motors. A winding thermostat is included
in the “A” range and “NA-4” actuators for
overload protection.
– Class B – 125°C
– Class F – 155°C
– Class H – 175°C
• Starter – Houses mechanically and electrically
interlocked reversing contactors
– Two normally open auxiliary contacts
– Opening and closing coils
– Fused control transformer.

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Rotork Components - Continued
• Integral Controls – open/stop/close pushbutton
with lockable local/off/remote selector switch.
• Position Indication – mechanical three-position
indicator shows open, intermediate, and closed
conditions.
• Torque and Limit Switches – open and close
torque or position limit switches plus two auxiliary
limit switches at each end of travel.

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Syncropak Electrical Schematic

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Front View of Switch Mechanism
(Nuclear)

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 Switch Mechanism (Nuclear)

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Cross Section of Limit Switch
Assembly

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 Typical Limit Switch Drive
Arrangements

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Switch Terminal Connections
(Nuclear)

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