Control System Components 211

trolled device is an actuator. The actuator receives the branch sig-

nal from the controller and positions the controlled device. Actua-
tors are also called motors or operators. Some important terms to
understanding the workings of controlled devices are normally
open, normally closed and actuator spring range. The terms nor-
mally closed (NC) and normally open (NO) refer to the position
of a controlled device when the power source, compressed air in
a pneumatic system, or electricity in an electrical or DDC system,
is removed. A controlled device that moves toward the closed
position as the branch line pressure decreases is normally closed.
A controlled device that moves toward the open position as the
branch line pressure decreases is normally open. The spring range
of an actuator restricts the movement of the controlled device
within set limits.

Dampers
Automatic dampers used in HVAC systems may be either
single blade or multi-blade. Multi-blade dampers are usually par-
allel blade for mixing applications such as in the return air duct
and the outside air duct to the mixing plenum. Opposed blade
dampers are used for volume applications. Dampers may be in-
stalled either normally open or normally closed.

Damper Actuator
Damper actuators position dampers according to the signal
from the controller. The air pressure from the controller may oper-
ate the actuator in either a two-position or proportioning manner.
Inside the actuator the control air pressure expands the diaphragm
around the piston and forces the piston outward against the
spring, driving the pushrod out. As air pressure is increased, the
pushrod is forced to the maximum of the spring range. As air is
removed from the actuator, the spring’s tension drives the piston
towards its normal position. For example, a damper with a pro-
portioning actuator has a spring range of 3 to 7 psig. The actuator
is in its normal position when the air pressure is 3 psig or less. Be-
tween 3 and 7 psig the stroke of the pushrod is proportional to the
212 HVAC Fundamentals

air pressure, for instance, 5 psig would mean that the pushrod is
half-way extended. Above 7 psig the maximum stroke is achieved.
Dampers can be sequenced by selecting actuators with different
spring ranges. For example, two normally closed dampers operat-
ing from the same controller control the air to a conditioned space.
The top damper operates from 3 to 7 psig. The bottom damper op-
erates between 8 and 13 psig. Both dampers are closed at 3 psig. At
7 psig the top damper is full open and the bottom damper is
closed. At 8 psig the top damper is full open and the bottom
damper is starting to open. At 13 psig both dampers are full open.
Damper actuators may be directly or remotely connected to the
damper. The damper position, normally open or normally closed,
is determined by the way the damper is connected to the actuator.
In other words, if the damper closes when the actuator is at mini-
mum stroke, the damper is normally closed. If, on the other hand,
the damper opens when the actuator is at minimum stroke, the
damper will be normally open.

Valves
Control valves are classified according to their flow charac-
teristics, such as quick opening, linear or equal percentage; their
control action, such as normally open or normally closed; and the
design of the valve body such as two-way, three-way, single
seated or double seated.
Flow characteristic refers to the relationship between the
length of the valve stem travel expressed as a percent and the
flow through the valve expressed as percent of full flow. For ex-
ample, the quick opening valve has a flat plug, which gives maxi-
mum flow as soon as the stem starts up. This type of valve might
deliver 90% of the flow when it’s open only 10%. Therefore, a
typical application for a quick opening valve might be on a
stream preheat coil where it is important to have a lot of fluid
flow as quickly as possible. By comparison, in a linear valve the
percent of stem travel and percent of flow are proportional. For
instance, if the stem travel is 50%, the flow is 50%. In the equal
percentage valve, each equal increment of stem travel increases