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Actuators are devices which open and control valves. They may open and close small valves all the way up to giant industrial valves. They are very useful because they prevent excess energy, water, chemical, or sewage flow from entering the plant's system before the system is ready to handle more. There are many different kinds of actuators, but electric valve actuators have multiple benefits over the others available.

They Are Power-Operated

Electric actuators fall under the power-operated category of actuators. This means that they automatically open and close valves without assistance from a human operator. The power-operated actuators are superior to the manual actuators because the response time is immediate. If you were to use a manual actuator in place of an electric actuator, a human operator would have to stand next to the valve wheel all day long, opening and closing it at intervals, and never quite opening and closing the valve fast enough.

They Can Be Controlled Remotely

With so many things that can now be controlled remotely, this is a definite plus for any industry with valves and valve systems. It is easier to control multiple valves from a tablet or power station than it is from each separate and individual valve station. You only need one or two people in the control room or a couple of tablets to control all of the actuators in one area of the plant, versus the multiple number of people you would need to control each of the valves manually and directly where the valves are located.

They Do Not Pollute

Electricity does not burn fuel or require ventilation for use. It does not leak substances that are toxic, nor does it create waste that needs to be disposed of safely. The only time electric valve actuators create waste is when they run on batteries, and the batteries have outlived their usefulness. However, that is much more rare because industrial plants frequently run on local electricity, or they generate their own electricity via their own onsite power plants.

They Are Extremely Quiet

In industrial settings, all the machinery that is running produces a ton of noise. It is nearly impossible to hear oneself speak with the machines in operation. Crew members have to wear ear plugs or headphones to reduce the dangerous levels of sound in these situations, which makes it even more difficult to communicate. If you are looking to reduce noise in your plant, then electrical valve actuators are ideal. They are extremely quiet, which helps reduce noise levels around you, making the work area safer for your ears and making it easier to communicate with other employees.

They Are Less Difficult to Repair

Valve actuators, just like anything else, wear out over time. Eventually, you will have to repair or replace these actuators. When you do, electrical valve actuators are the least difficult to repair and the least expensive to replace. Hands down, they beat out the spring actuators that have extra internal components that can slip out of place, hydraulic and pneumatic valve actuators that lose pressure, and manual actuators which frequently have parts break off in your hands.

Switching Your Valve Actuators

There is an initial expense for switching out valve actuators. Removal of extra parts not required by electric valve actuators and extra pipe fittings are common. It will take some time to switch the entire plant over to these actuators too, meaning that you will have to find some alternate way to conduct the flow through the plant's pipes. However, given that electrical valve actuators are also known to be quite efficient, they will eventually pay for themselves.