What is the purpose of a control valve's positioner?
Control valves are devices that regulate the flow, pressure, or temperature of a fluid in a system. They are often used in industrial processes, such as chemical, oil and gas, power, and water treatment. To achieve the desired control performance, control valves need to respond accurately to the signals from the controller or the operator. However, various factors, such as friction, hysteresis, deadband, and nonlinearities, can affect the valve's movement and cause errors or instability. This is where a control valve's positioner comes in handy.