Why choose electric valve actuators

Why choose electric valve actuators

1. Structure and maintenance

Electric actuator:

Driven by an electric motor, valve control is achieved through mechanical structures such as gears and screws. The structure is simple and compact, without complex hydraulic pipelines, pumps, or oil storage devices.

Advantages:

Low maintenance cost: No need to regularly replace hydraulic oil or clean the oil circuit, reducing maintenance frequency and downtime.

No leakage risk: Avoid pollution, corrosion, or fire hazards caused by hydraulic oil leakage, especially suitable for ship environments with strict environmental and safety requirements.

Hydraulic actuator:

Relying on hydraulic oil to transmit power, the system includes an oil pump, an oil tank, pipelines, and seals.

Disadvantages:

Easy to leak: Aging or vibration of seals may cause oil leakage, increasing maintenance difficulty and environmental pollution risk.

Complex maintenance: Regular inspection of oil quality and replacement of filter elements are required, and the cost of disposing of waste oil is relatively high.

2. Energy efficiency and environmental protection

Electric actuator:

Significant energy saving: only consumes electricity during operation, with almost no energy consumption in standby mode. Compared to hydraulic systems that require continuous pressure supply, long-term operation can significantly reduce energy costs.

Environmentally friendly: No hydraulic oil consumption or leakage, in compliance with the strict regulations of IMO (International Maritime Organization) on ship emissions and pollution.  

Hydraulic actuator:

High energy consumption: Hydraulic pumps need to operate continuously to maintain system pressure, especially when valves remain stationary for a long time, resulting in energy waste.  

Pollution risk: Hydraulic oil leakage may contaminate the cabin or marine environment, requiring additional treatment costs.

3. Control accuracy and response speed

Electric actuator:

High precision control can be achieved: precise valve opening adjustment (accuracy up to ± 0.5%) can be achieved through encoders, servo motors, and digital controllers.

Quick response: The motor is directly driven, with quick start stop and short delay time (in milliseconds).  

Intelligent integration: supports bus communication (such as CAN bus Modbus）， Easy to access ship automation systems (such as integrated into PLC or DCS) for remote monitoring and automated management.  

Hydraulic actuator:

Accuracy limitation: The compressibility of hydraulic oil and pressure loss in pipelines may cause control lag, and the accuracy is usually lower than that of electric systems.  

Response delay: The oil pressure needs to be adjusted through a valve, and the dynamic response is slow (in seconds).

4. Environmental adaptability

Electric actuator:

Strong temperature resistance: using high or low temperature resistant motors and electronic components (such as -40 ℃ to 80 ℃) to adapt to extreme temperature difference environments on ships.

Corrosion resistant design: The shell protection level can reach IP67/IP68, effectively resisting salt spray, moisture, and vibration, extending the service life.

Explosion proof capability: With Ex certified explosion-proof design, it is suitable for flammable and explosive areas (such as oil tanker cargo holds).  

Hydraulic actuator:

Temperature sensitivity: An increase in hydraulic oil viscosity at low temperatures may cause difficulty in starting, while high temperatures may lead to oil oxidation failure.  

Corrosion risk: Metal pipelines are prone to rusting in salt spray environments, increasing the probability of leakage.

5. Installation and Space Utilization

Electric actuator:

Easy installation: Integrated design, no need for additional hydraulic power units, saving space in ship equipment compartments.

Flexible layout: Cable routing is easier to plan than hydraulic pipelines, especially suitable for ship engine rooms with limited space.  

Hydraulic actuator:

Large space occupation: requires the configuration of oil pumps, fuel tanks, and complex pipelines, increasing installation complexity.

6. Safety and reliability

Electric actuator:

Multiple protection mechanisms: built-in overload protection, overheating protection, and power-off memory function to reduce the risk of faults.  

No fire hazard: No flammable hydraulic oil, higher safety.  

Hydraulic actuator:

Potential danger: High pressure oil pipe rupture or leakage may cause fires, especially in high-risk areas such as engine rooms

7. Whole life cycle cost

Electric actuator:

Low operating costs, Zhongneng Intelligent Control electric actuator 10-year maintenance free:

Reduce energy consumption and save operating costs;

Reduced maintenance costs (no oil replacement, filter replacement, etc.);  

Long life design.  

Hydraulic actuator:

The cost is relatively high, and it requires continuous investment in oil replacement, seal repair, and leakage treatment expenses in the long term.