Self-contained or self-operated temperature control valves

Self-contained or self-operated temperature control valves do not require an outside energy source such as compressed air or electricity (Figure 26). They depend on a temperature-sensing bulb and capillary tube filled with either an oil or a volatile liquid. In an oil filled system, the oil expands as the sensing bulb is heated. This expansion is transmitted through the capillary tube to an actuator bellows in the valve top, which causes the valve to close. The valve opens as the sensing bulb cools and the oil contracts; a spring provides a return force on the valve stem.

A volatile liquid control system is known as a vapor pressure or vapor tension system. When the sensing bulb is warmed, some of the volatile liquid vaporizes, causing an increase in the sealed system pressure. The pressure rise is transmitted through the capillary tube to expand the bellows, which then moves the valve stem and closes the valve. Thermal systems actuate the control valve either directly or through a pilot valve.

In a direct-actuated design, the control directly moves the valve stem and plug to close or open the valve. These valves must compensate for the steam pressure force acting on the valve seat by generating a greater force in the bellows to close the valve. An adjustable spring adjusts the temperature set point and provides the return force to move the valve stem upward as the temperature decreases.

A pilot-operated valve uses a much smaller intermediate pilot valve that controls the flow of steam to a large diaphragm that then acts on the valve stem. This allows the control system to work against high steam pressures due to the smaller area of the pilot valve.

For self-contained temperature valves to operate as proportional controls, the bulb must sense a change in the temperature of the process fluid. The difference in temperature from no-load to maximum controllable load is known as the proportional band. Because the size of this proportional band can be varied depending on valve size, the accuracy is variable. Depending on the application, proportional bands of 2 to 18°F may be selected, as shown in the following table: