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DL/T 641-2005 Electric Valve Actuators for Power Plant — Full Text with English Summary
source:    date:2026-10-01

Editor's note: the Chinese body above is the complete transcript of DL/T 641-2005. This English text is an editorial summary prepared for international readers, not an official translation. Figures A.1/A.2/B.1 and the formula images were not preserved in the 2006 web version; the formulas have been re-typeset from their variable definitions in the standard text.

1 Scope

DL/T 641-2005 (replacing DL/T 641-1997), issued by the National Development and Reform Commission on 2005-02-14 and effective from 2005-06-01, specifies the terminology, types, technical requirements, selection, test methods, inspection rules, marking, packaging, transport and storage of electric actuators for power station valves (including their power control components). It applies to motor-driven electric actuators of various types for on-off valves, control (modulating) valves and dampers.

2 Normative References

  • GB 755 Rotating electrical machines – Rating and performance
  • GB/T 997 Codes for construction and mounting of electrical machines
  • GB/T 3797 Electric control equipment – Part 2: electronic-based control equipment
  • GB 4208 Degrees of protection (IP code)
  • GB/T 12222 Connection of multi-turn valve actuating devices
  • GB/T 12223 Connection of part-turn valve actuating devices
  • GB/T 13306 Plates
  • JB/T 8218 Terminology of actuators
  • JB/T 10308.3 Fieldbus for industrial control systems

3 Key Terms

  • Rated torque — design setpoint of torque.
  • Tripping (control) torque — the torque range the torque control mechanism can control in both open and close directions; divided into maximum and minimum control torque.
  • Locked-rotor torque — output torque when the motor rotor is stalled.
  • Setting torque — control torque adjusted at the factory before delivery according to the user's requirement.
  • Output speed — design speed of the output shaft.
  • Rated travel time — time to run from fully closed to fully open (0% to 100% stroke).
  • Intrinsic error — maximum difference between actual and specified travel characteristic curves, as a percentage of rated travel.
  • Hysteresis plus dead band — maximum difference between corresponding travel values on increasing and decreasing the same input signal.
  • Dead band — finite interval within which reversal of the input signal causes no travel change, as a percentage of signal range.
  • Power control component — electrical unit that amplifies the input signal to start/stop the motor and set its direction.
  • Proportional actuator — actuator with power control component whose output travel is proportional to the input signal.
  • Integral actuator — actuator with power control component whose output travel is integrally related to the input signal.
  • Intelligent actuator — actuator with power control component, microprocessor and optional digital communication interface, providing closed-loop control and fault diagnosis.

4 Classification

  • By output motion: multi-turn (linear-stroke) and part-turn (quarter-turn) actuators.
  • By duty: on-off type — duty S2 with 10/15/30 min ratings; modulating type — duty S4 or S5 with 10%–80% duty factor and 1200/900/600 starts per hour or more depending on motor power.
  • With power control component: integral or proportional.

5 Technical Requirements (summary)

Construction: motor, gear reduction train, torque control (mechanical or electronic), travel control, position indication, position feedback (on request), manual operator, manual-electric changeover, power control (on request).

Service conditions: altitude up to 1000 m; ambient temperature -20℃ to +80℃ (on-off) or -20℃ to +60℃ (modulating); relative humidity up to 90% at 25℃; no strongly corrosive, flammable or explosive media. Supply: three-phase 380 V±10% or single-phase 220 V±10%, 50 Hz±1%.

General requirements (5.2): mounting dimensions to GB/T 12222/12223; earth terminal and marking; clockwise-to-close manual operation recommended; separation of power and control cabling; creepage and clearance distances per Table 1. Position indicator travel 80°–280° following the output shaft; position transmitter supply 12–30 V DC with 4–20 mA DC feedback within ±1% of span; noise ≤75 dB(A); insulation resistance ≥20 MΩ; dielectric test per Table 2.

Torque relations: maximum control torque ≥ rated torque; minimum control torque ≤ rated torque and ≤50% of maximum; setting torque between minimum and maximum (equals minimum if unspecified); locked-rotor torque > 1.1 × maximum control torque. Torque repeatability per Table 3; position repeatability per Table 4. Impact load resistance per Table 5. Life: 10,000 cycles without failure (on-off) / 200,000 cycles (modulating).

Modulating-duty requirements (5.3): intrinsic error ≤±1.0%, hysteresis ≤1.0%, dead band ≤1% of input span, damping ≤3 half-cycles; vibration test 10–150 Hz, 0.15 mm, 30 min with output signal change ≤±1%; after 48 h trouble-free running all above limits still hold.

Table 1 Clearance and creepage distances
Rated voltage Ui (a.c. r.m.s.) VClearance mmCreepage mm
≤60≥2≥3
60 < Ui ≤ 250≥3≥4
250 < Ui < 500≥4≥6
Table 2 Test voltages
Rated voltage Ui (a.c. r.m.s.) VTest voltage V
≤60500
60 < Ui ≤ 1251000
125 < Ui ≤ 2502Ui + 1000
250 < Ui ≤ 5002Ui + 1000
Table 3 Control-torque repeatability
Actuator typeTorque repeatability
Multi-turn≤ ±7%
Part-turn≤ ±10%
Table 4 Position repeatability
Actuator typePosition repeatability
Multi-turn±5°
Part-turn±1°
Table 5 Load requirement (impact)
Max. control torque NmLoad requirement
≤ 40002 × max. control torque, or axially permissible thrust
> 40001.8 × max. control torque, or axially permissible thrust

6 Selection (summary)

Protection degree: indoors ≥IP55 (without mechanical brake) / IP54 (with brake); outdoors ≥IP65. Handwheel operating torque ≥15 Nm at maximum control torque. On-off actuators shall output open/closed/intermediate status signals, torque-overload signals in both directions, a remote flashing running signal, and a position signal (resistive or 4–20 mA DC). Modulating actuators shall additionally provide 4–20 mA DC position feedback with load capability ≥650 Ω and motor thermal protection. Actuators with power control component shall accept 4–20 mA DC (≤250 Ω), 24 V DC pulses (>300 ms) or contact signals (modulating) and contact/24 V DC signals (on-off), provide local/remote selection, anti-misoperation protection, overcurrent protection, hold-in-place on power loss, and hold or move to safe position on signal loss.

Intelligent actuators shall in addition offer: HMI-based parameter setting/commissioning/diagnostics, oscillation-free operation under all conditions (e.g. adaptive dead band), prevention of motor coasting, automatic three-phase phase-sequence correction, fail-in-place with fault signalling, emergency open/close operation, and a fieldbus interface to JB/T 10308.3.

Matching with valves: maximum control torque must exceed the torque required to open/close the valve in service; minimum control torque must be below it (for modulating service, not less than the running torque at mid-position); rated travel must cover the valve stroke and be adjustable. Double-speed valves require twin-motor, pole-changing or variable-frequency actuators.

7 Test Methods (summary)

Tests are run at rated voltage and frequency: IP test per GB 4208; visual checks; position indicator check over three full cycles; output signal check at 0/25/50/75/100% stroke with deviation Δo = (I1 − Io)/I × 100% (Eq. 1), three measurements per direction; noise per GB/T 3797; insulation resistance at 500 V DC; dielectric test per Table 2 held 1 min (1 s for sample inspection); no-load and loaded manual-electric changeover checks; maximum/setting/minimum control-torque tests (three per direction); locked-rotor torque test; torque repeatability δ0 = (Ms − Mz)/Mz × 100% (Eq. 2); travel position repeatability over three runs; strength test at Table 5 load ≥0.5 s; life test per Appendix A or B.

Modulating actuators: intrinsic error δ = (L1 − L0)/L × 100% (Eq. 3) measured on both increasing and decreasing signals; hysteresis from the maximum algebraic difference between up/down errors; dead band Δ = (I1 − I2)/I × 100% (Eq. 4) measured at 25/50/75% stroke; damping check with 25/50/75% step signals (≤3 half-cycles); resonance-search vibration test; 48 h stability run at 50% stroke with 20%–50% on-time factor at (580±50) operations/hour.

8 Inspection Rules

Every actuator undergoes factory inspection (Table 6). Sample inspection covers ≥3% of the batch; one failure doubles the sample and repeated failure forces 100% inspection. Type tests are required for new designs, major design/process/material changes, every 5 years in normal production, and on resumption after 5 years idle.

Table 6 Inspection items
No.Inspection itemInspection classRequirement clause
FactorySampleType
1Enclosure protection test——√6.1.2
2Appearance check√√√5.2.5–5.2.6
3Handwheel (lever) check√√√5.2.7
4Wiring and conductors check√√√5.2.8
5Creepage and clearance——√5.2.9
6Position indicator check√√√5.2.10
7Output position signal check—√√5.2.11
8Noise check——√5.2.12
9Insulation resistance check√√√5.2.13
10Dielectric test—√√5.2.14
11Manual/electric changeover check√√√5.2.15
12Max. control torque check√√√5.2.16
13Setting torque check√√√5.2.17
14Min. control torque check√√√5.2.16
15Locked-rotor torque check√√√5.2.18
16Torque repeatability check—√√5.2.19
17Travel repeatability check—√√5.2.20
18Strength test——√5.2.21
19Life test——√5.2.22
20Intrinsic error test√√√5.3.3
21Hysteresis test——√5.3.4
22Dead band test——√5.3.5
23Damping test——√5.3.6
24Vibration test——√5.3.7
25Long-run stability test——√5.3.8

9 Marking, Packaging, Transport and Storage

Nameplate (GB/T 13306) shall state: manufacturer; product name/model; maximum, minimum and setting torque; output speed (or travel time); stroke/turns; protection class; serial number; date. Exposed machined surfaces oiled; boxes rain-proof, stackable five-high; marking includes manufacturer, product, consignee, handling symbols, gross weight and volume. Each box carries the certificate, manual and packing list. Transport shall avoid violent shocks; storage in ventilated dry non-corrosive warehouses at -20℃ to +45℃, RH ≤85%.

Appendix A — Life Test for On-Off Actuators (normative)

Life = total open-stop-close-stop cycles until specified performance is lost. Running torque = 1/3 of maximum control torque (running at 1/3, closing at full torque; same for thrust). Cycle period 40 s: open 10 s, stop 10 s, close 10 s, stop 10 s. Fully open controlled by the travel switch, fully closed by the torque switch. 10,000 automatic cycles; efficiency measured via torque sensors before/after with η = output torque / input torque × 100% (Eq. A.1). Permissible changes per Table A.1.

Table A.1 Permissible errors
Measured itemMeasured parameterPermissible error
Running efficiencyInput and output torque≤10%
Output torqueTorque≤10%
Travel control accuracyChange of output-shaft open position≤±5°
Output signal errorSignal vs. final displacement error≤0.5%
Contact resistanceResistance≤2 mΩ

Appendix B — Life Test for Modulating Actuators (normative)

Life = total open-stop cycles until specified performance is lost. Running torque = minimum control torque, constant load. Cycle = one running period + one rest period, (300±30) cycles/hour, 25% duty factor. Direction controlled by the power control component. 200,000 automatic cycles (time-relay or 4–20 mA controlled); same measurement set and Table A.1 limits as Appendix A.

Footnote

[1] Per GB 755: S2 — short-time duty; S4 — intermittent periodic duty with starting; S5 — intermittent periodic duty with electric braking.

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