ROTORK of the United Kingdom is a world-renowned manufacturer of industrial control and instrumentation. Registered in the UK in 1958 with a registered capital of GBP 1,015,000, ROTORK enjoys a worldwide reputation for its actuators and has achieved great success in the world market, with annual sales of GBP 90 million. ROTORK is today the leader in this field.

Product Overview

1. Strongly Recommended: the Rotork IQ Intelligent Electric Actuator — Refinement

Experimented and tested, the Rotork IQ series of intelligent electric valve actuators has now been further improved — retaining its world-famous features such as Rotork's unique double-seal system and "non-intrusive" infrared setting, while using fewer electronic components for increased functionality and reliability.

The Rotork IQ is the result of continuous research and development at the frontier of new technology, offering end users higher standards of quality, performance and overall value.

Rotork IQ standard specifications provide wide flexibility of control and indication, making complex and expensive customer-specific engineering frequently unnecessary. This approach permits volume production, which in turn guarantees consistently high product quality. IQ continues to deliver all of its key advantages that keep it in the leading position worldwide.

For any environment and any application, IQ has become synonymous with reliability. Its simple design, double-sealed watertight housing, infrared setting and comprehensive protection system keep IQ world-leading in reliable valve operation. Ease of use, very low maintenance costs, and simple diagnostics and spare-part replacement mean users need no specialist knowledge.

Simple Commissioning

The infrared setting tool allows simple, safe and rapid non-intrusive adjustment. The "point-and-go" IQ setter gives access to and adjusts actuator settings such as torque values, limits, control and indication functions. Rotork's unique intrinsically safe setter permits non-intrusive setting in any environment, with or without auxiliary power.

Easy-to-Read, Backlit Display

The easy-to-read, backlit display provides valve status, control and actuator alarm icons. With the IQ setting tool you can view comprehensive real-time diagnostic help screens showing local and remote control status, actuator configuration, and valve position with instantaneous torque. A built-in data logger records operations, alarms and valve torque profiles — valuable information on operating history and running conditions.

IQ now offers the valve actuator a range of immensely powerful features, including:

• DC and single-phase power versions
• Built-in data logger as a standard feature
• IrOAT compatibility for local and remote actuator analysis via mobile phone or PC
• Clearer, more and easier-to-use control and indication functions for the user
• Simple torque and valve-position monitoring for improved reliability
• Streamlined electronics — "system-on-chip" technology
• Enhanced anti-corrosion protection
• Greater flexibility of control and indication
• Additional protection systems
• DL/T 641-2005 Electric Valve Actuators for Power Plant — Full Text with English Summary

Protection Is Key

Extensive experience accumulated in electric actuator applications has made Rotork a world leader in actuator terminal protection. In tides, humidity, extreme temperature swings, harsh and corrosive atmospheres — from desert to tundra, from coastal to underground installations — the most important factor for actuator reliability is immunity to the environment: in a word, the housing.

Double Seal, Double Protection

The IQ housing is rated IP68 — 3 m underwater for 48 hours, NEMA 4/4X/6. It is completely waterproof and dustproof and does not "breathe". Rotork's double-seal system keeps the internal components protected: a watertight terminal module isolates the internal cabling from the terminal compartment. Protection is maintained even during site wiring when the terminal cover is removed, because the terminal module is independently sealed.

Non-Intrusive and Sealed for Life

IQ site commissioning requires no removal of the electrical compartment covers. All settings and adjustments are made with the supplied infrared setting tool. Assembled in the controlled environment of our factory, gas exchange is excluded — all internal components are protected for life. Non-intrusive control means there is no shaft passing through the control housing.

Simple and Reliable

IQ simplifies the design while extending specification and performance.

Torque Measurement

The ability to measure reliably and precisely the force required to operate a valve is fundamental to protecting both valve and actuator. IQ uses its patented output torque measuring system, developed from familiar process-measurement technology such as pressure transducers. Proven in industry and adapted to valve actuation, a piezoresistive sensor mounted in the torque sensor converts the reaction force of the motor worm thrust directly into an electrical signal proportional to the output torque under load, providing accurate and repeatable torque measurement independent of supply frequency, voltage and temperature variations.

Position Measurement

Reliable process control depends on accurate positioning at the ends of valve travel, while modulating control depends on accurate positioning in mid-travel. The patented non-contact valve-position measuring system is the simplest design in actuator control: a resolver with only one moving part converts rotation of the output sleeve into an electrical signal, which is then compared with the limits stored in safe, permanent memory.

Fewer Components

Streamlined mechanical and electrical systems improve reliability. As the foundation of IQ, improvements to the handwheel train and the control chassis increase actuator reliability. The latest "system-on-chip" technology is applied in the IQ control module. The component count is significantly reduced, which in turn reduces the complexity of interconnection, wiring and printed circuit boards. Enhancements such as data-display functions and better system protection further raise performance and reliability.

Safety Integrity

IQ was originally developed to raise the safety-integrity status of valve actuators. Through further design and innovation, Rotork is able to offer solutions that allow process engineers to select actuators against defined safety integrity levels. As international standards such as IEC 61508, ISA-S84.01 and DIN 19250 become the requirements for assessing the safety integrity of process systems, Rotork will be pleased to discuss your requirements.

Suitable valves include gate valves, ball valves and butterfly valves.

Note: the IQ-IB/IS combination reaches 43,386 Nm (multi-turn); the IQ-IW combination reaches 137,000 Nm (quarter-turn).

2. IQM — Intelligent Actuator for Frequent Modulating Duty

Operating frequency: 1,200 starts/hour
Control: thyristor
Ingress protection: IP68 (normal operation 3 m underwater for 48 hours)

Simple mechanical structure
Highly integrated modular design
Double sealing
Intelligent fault diagnosis with automatic recovery
More than ten protection functions
LCD display
Remote communication by mobile phone
Maintenance for life

Torque measurement adopts new piezoresistive technology for more precise torque readings, suitable for all power supplies
Extensive research shows that adding a decoder is the most reliable solution available
Body made of LM20 (ASTM A316) aluminium alloy
Streamlined profile

3. AQ Series Quarter-Turn Electric Actuator

AQ actuators perform superbly and integrate fully with advanced control systems;
AQ actuators provide reliable 90-degree quarter-turn drive for industrial production;
Following ROTORK's high-reliability design philosophy, AQ shares the same electronic advantages as the IQ, A and Q series actuators;
Being fully modular, the AQM variant of the AQ suits all AQ application sites.

Fully sealed enclosure waterproof to IP68 (NEMA 4, 6);
Unique double-seal technology completely prevents the ingress of moisture and dust;
DC, single-phase or three-phase power supply;
External setting of valve travel limits;
Easy setting of auxiliary limit switches.

Output torque up to 1080 Nm;
Two auxiliary limit switches provided;
Mounting at any operating angle;
No additional brake required — the safe self-locking design already meets the drive requirements of butterfly and gate valves

4. Q Series — Economical and Reliable

Quarter-turn
Single-phase supply
Compact
Double-sealed

Simple operation
Pointer indication
Double braking protection
Waterproof rating IP68

Applied to small and medium-torque dampers, water treatment, etc.

Related Reading

• Rotork (ROTORK) Electric Actuator Maintenance Procedures
• 28 Common Faults of Rotork IQ Series Actuators and Their Solutions
• DL/T 641-2005 Electric Valve Actuators for Power Plant — Full Text with English Summary