Controller for three way valve

If you take on three-way valves without understanding how their controllers work in real conditions, you can get into trouble. Многие думают, что это просто регулятор потока, но на деле от выбора контроллера зависит, будет ли система стабильна при перепадах давления или скачках температуры. Я сам лет пять назад чуть не угробил проект на тепловом узле, потому что поставил универсальный контроллер без учета специфики гидравлики. Since then, I have always checked how the device will behave in emergency situations - for example, when one of the circuits suddenly becomes clogged.

Why standard solutions don't always work

Taking the first controller you come across is like playing roulette. В одном из проектов для теплиц мы использовали модель с шаговым двигателем, и она постоянно сбоила при резком изменении расхода воды. It turned out that the manufacturer did not take into account the inertia of the valve, and the controller simply did not have time to adjust the position of the damper. We had to switch to devices with position feedback, although initially it seemed that this was redundant.

Another common problem is when the type of environment is not taken into account. In the same drip irrigation project, the valves worked with fertilizers, and the controller contacts quickly oxidized. Standard versions are simply not designed for aggressive environments, and specialized versions are more expensive, but you don’t have to change boards every six months.

By the way, I recently sawShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltdon their website https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru solutions for integrating water and fertilizers - there is an emphasis on protected components. It’s a pity that I didn’t pay attention to such nuances at the time.

How to select a controller for specific tasks

With three-way valves, it is important to look not only at the technical parameters, but also at how the controller will interact with other elements of the system. For example, if you have pumps with frequency regulation, then the controller must be able to work with analog signals, and not just with discrete ones. Otherwise, it turns out that the valve is open, but the pump does not have time to adjust - and now there are water hammers or excessive energy consumption.

In agricultural project automation systems that he mentionsShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd, often use controllers with remote control capabilities. This is convenient when the valves are scattered across the fields, but then the problem with power arises - if you pull separate lines, the cost of installation soars. In such cases, we install devices with low-voltage power supply and battery backup.

Another point is positioning accuracy. For irrigation systems, where it is important to dose water with fertilizers, even a deviation of 5% can lead to excessive consumption of reagents. I usually check the controllers for calibration - without it, after a couple of months of operation, discrepancies begin.

Installation errors and their consequences

The most common mistake is installing the controller without taking into account vibrations. The pumps create constant vibrations, and if the board is not secured properly, the contacts will become unsoldered over time. I had an incident on a dairy farm where this caused the valve to randomly switch between circuits until the motor failed.

The location of the sensors relative to the valve is also important. If you place the temperature sensor too far away, the controller will receive lagging data and constantly switch modes. As a result, the system works at random, and the wear of mechanical parts increases significantly.

By the way, in the description of projectsShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdI noticed that they focus on designing for specific conditions - this is exactly what is often missing in standard solutions.

Features of setup and calibration

Setting up a controller is not just about setting parameters according to the manual. For example, if you are working with a three-way valve in a heating system, you need to take thermal inertia into account. I usually set the reaction delay to 10-15 seconds, otherwise the valve will constantly twitch at the slightest change in temperature.

Calibration is a different story. Many manufacturers skimp on this and have to check the position scale themselves. I once saw how the new controller showed 50% opening, but in fact the valve was open 70%. After a couple of such cases, I always run the test in all positions.

In water filtration systems, which are also within the scope ofShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd, it is important to configure controllers based on inlet and outlet pressures. Otherwise, when washing the filters, you may get a backlash on the line.

Prospects and what to expect from new models

Nowadays, controllers with self-diagnosis capabilities are increasingly appearing - this really simplifies life. For example, some models can monitor the wear of motor brushes and signal in advance the need for maintenance. It used to happen that failure occurred at the most inopportune moment - during night watering or in frost.

Another interesting direction is integration with remote monitoring systems. If previously you had to personally go around objects to check, now you can monitor the condition of the valves through the web interface. UShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltdin the description of services there is a mention of remote control - I think this will become a standard for agricultural projects in the coming years.

Personally, I'm waiting for more affordable controllers with adaptive logic to appear - so that they can adapt to changes in system parameters without reconfiguring. So far, these are available only in the premium segment, but for mass projects like smart agricultural parks this would be ideal.