To meet increasing demand for more automated powder handling control and isolation valves, Mucon has recently developed and launched a number of powered versions of the Iris Valve including the well known Series-E Iris Diaphragm Valve. In order to both control and monitor the position of these powered valves they have been fitted with open and closed limit switches and one, or perhaps two, intermediate position switches somewhere in between; often referred to as the ‘trickle’ position.
The Series K2P and A2P Iris valves have improved the ability to vary the diaphragm orifice still further by providing a pulse generator switch; offering the end user the ability to programme up to thirty positions between fully open and closed. The controller can utilise any 4-20mA or 0-10V input signal to give direct, closed loop, control over the open diameter of the valve orifice. When this control module is used in conjunction with a powered Mucon Iris Valve, feedback from a weigh scale can be used to slowly close the valve as it approaches the target weight or in the case of a mill the feed rate can be controlled in real-time, based on an interpretation of the load on the drive motor.