AU XI LI A RY E Q U I PMEN T
Volume boosters: Vital components
A
Volume boosters volume booster consists of mainly Function of a bypass valve
three ports: supply port, output port Volume boosters are designed and manufactured
are used for and a signal port. The air supply is con- with a bypass screw. Some manufacturers also
control valves to nected to the supply port, whereas the produce volume boosters without bypass screws
vent the process output port of this device is connected to the
pneumatic actuator.
(see Figure 2).
If this screw is closed, the entire pressure of the
immediately or A signal (3 to 15 PSI) from the positioner positioner will act upon the upper diaphragm.
at an anti-surge is connected to the signal port of volume As a result, the volume booster will produce
booster. (Picture -1 / 1a). A signal from the maximum output and the closing / opening of
loop to control (by positioner (3 to 15 PSI) goes to the upper and the valve will be very fast.
opening the valve) lower diaphragm simultaneously. The lower When this bypass valve is put at a certain
diaphragm will push the poppet shaft head opening position, a portion of the signal of the
surge of process down and will open the main air supply to positioner will move from this bypass route and
quickly. These the actuator and meanwhile the vent of the will mix at volume booster output so the action
generally are used volume booster will be closed. of the volume booster will be observed as a bit
As the signal (for example, from 12 PSI down to slow.
in applications 9 PSI) decreases from the positioner to volume Therefore, this bypass valve needs to be adjusted
where the process booster, the upper diaphragm will move upward, as per requirement. For example, when the
the vent port will open and the pressure from bypass screw is fully closed, the control valve
will be disrupted the actuator will be released to the atmosphere may take five seconds to travel from fully open
very quickly, to through the vent port. Meanwhile, the pop- to fully closed position.
control sudden pet will move upward as the upper pressure is
released and this action will restrict air supply to
By gradually opening the bypass screw, the tim-
ing of opening / closing of control valve will be
pressure changes. actuator. enhanced and it may take 10 to 15 seconds. The
As such, volume
boosters play a vital Booster
role by speeding Supply
up the pneumatic
actuators.
Positioner
By Mr. Mazari
Supply
Signal
Picture 1: Volume Booster schematic Picture 1a: Volume Booster Internals
Picture 2: Bypass Screw
46 Valve World May 2022 www.valve-world.net
AUXILIA RY E QUI PMENT
This valve type is signal to open and fail
to close. When starting to open the valve,
one volume booster which has the air sup-
ply, will be in action and the valve can be
opened a bit fast but due to one volume
Volume
Volu me booost
s err, with
th booster in action, so its movement will be
aiir supp
pp
ply a bit slow compared to 2 volume boosters.
When the valve is closing (decreasing signal
Volumme booster, aiir su
supp
pply
l
ly from positioner), both volume boosters will
portt is plugged be in operation and in action and will vent
out the air /signal inside actuator quickly.
So, opening of control valve is being con-
trolled through one volume booster while
closing, both volume boosters are active.
About the author:
Mr. Aftab Ahmed Mazari
holds vast practical
experience of 43 years as
an Instrument Engineer.
He authored 8 industrial
instrumentation books in
Picture 3: Two Volume Boosters at single acting actuator local language (Urdu) of
Pakistan. He has developed various training
opening/closing time all depends on the diaphragm type actuator. In this configura- aids for instrument engineers / technicians
application or process requirement. tion, one booster has air supply whereas which include simulators (training rigs),
the second one has no supply and its Vibration Simulator, Speed Simulator, Vibration
Two boosters at single acting actuator supply port is plugged. Switch Simulator etc., and also cut-away
In figure number 3, there are two volume The question is: why is the supply port models of Control Valves, PSVs, SOV, Pressure
boosters that are installed at a single-acting plugged? Regulator, Temperature Indicator, Trip Relay etc.
www.valve-world.net Valve World May 2022 47
