ABEK SENSORS launches Ex ia intrinsic safety anti-explosion LVDT to meet hazardous environment requirements.
July 2025
In July 2025, ABEK SENSORS' FLAR19 series LVDTs has been upgraded to the levelEx ia ⅡC T6 Gacertificate. The FLAR19 series LVDT can operate safely in hazardous environments with explosive gases, vapors, dust, etc. It has been approved by explosion-proof certificate institutions and is marked with Ex logo. It can be used in Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2, meeting the strict standards required for operation in hazardous environments without the risk of igniting hazardous materials or flammable environments
The FLAR19 explosion-proof position sensor can operate reliably in environments with flammable and explosive gases or liquids, such as petrochemical plants, LNG storage tanks, oilfield equipment, gas turbines and power plants, to provide highly reliable position feedback.
The FLAR19 LVDTs are available in ranges from ±5mm to ±250mm, and they also have the advantages of high resolution, repeatability, and low impedance, with a maximum linearity error of ±0.25% of the full-scale output (the method of deriving the optimal slope by the least squares method)
The FLAR19 series of LVDT position sensors play an important role in predictive maintenance of gas turbines and are part of a process control system used to monitor housing expansion and bearing vibration. The hermetically sealed AC-LVDTs are mounted on the turbine housing and measure the housing expansion to provide a linear output signal. The operator can use these output signals to determine the status of the turbine housing, whether it is up, running, or shutting down.
Control valve performance is critical to improving gas turbine efficiency. Since the valves regulate the flow of fuel in the different components of the gas turbine, the precise monitoring and control of the flow of these valves allows the turbine to operate more efficiently while minimizing energy waste.
As a rule, gas turbine power plants operate under highly accurate control algorithms. Therefore, valve positions need to be monitored at all times to ensure proper operation. While many valve users may only need to know whether a valve is open or closed, some control systems require precise valve positioning. For example, since a bleed valve functions as a regulating valve, it should be adjusted to a specified position based on the power generated. By ensuring that valves are properly opened or closed to the correct position, power plants can operate more efficiently.
While the actuator drives the valve, the feedback device conveys the valve's position data back to the turbine control system, indicating whether and to what extent the valve should open or close. LVDTs (Linear Variable Differential Transformers) are commonly used as position feedback sensors, providing precise valve position measurements to ensure stable turbine operation. Constructed from stainless steel and certified for intrinsic safety and explosion-proof operation, these sensors are designed to perform reliably in high-temperature, harsh, and potentially explosive environments. They convert the linear displacement of a mechanically coupled component into a corresponding electrical signal, which the controller uses as a critical input within the overall control system.
This picture is forbidden to reprint, please indicate the name or website of the company for reprinting.
The LVDT position sensor is mounted in a double- or triple-redundant configuration—either on the gate of a moving gate valve or on the actuator of a rotating ball or butterfly valve. It continuously reports the valve’s real-time status to the turbine control system, including its position, open/closed state, and the precise degree of opening. Based on feedback from the LVDT, the control system determines whether more or less fuel is required for optimal turbine performance and signals the actuator to adjust the valve accordingly. As the actuator moves the valve, the LVDT transmits an analog electrical signal proportional to the valve’s opening degree. Using this real-time feedback, the actuator continuously fine-tunes the valve position until the desired opening is achieved.
LVDT position sensors withstand significant shock and vibration, and perform reliably even when exposed to extremely harsh environments.
A key reason for the reliable performance of LVDT sensors in power plant systems lies in their separated design: the sensitive electronics (signal conditioner/transmitter) are housed remotely, while only the robust sensor is mounted directly on the turbine. This configuration allows the LVDT to endure intense heat of 150°C to 200°C at the turbine while the electronics operate safely under ambient conditions.
ABEK SENSORS' SCAC06 series LVDT signal conditioners can match most LVDT sensors on the market, regardless of the position of 3-wire, 4-wire, 5-wire, 6-wire and LVDT core, the maximum and minimum position can be calibrated according to the valve position opening corresponding to the output analog signal.
Due to the presence of gaseous vapors in gas turbines, LVDTs installed on turbines must meet safety requirements and be approved by explosion-proof certificates. These requirements set the standard for sensor designs based on an "ignition curve" environment. The inductance design of the FLAR19 is below the ignition curve and does not have enough power to ignite any gaseous vapors present in a standard operating or fault conditions.
About ABEK SENSORS
ABEK SENSORS addresses position measurement solutions for challenging applications in harsh environments. These include radiation-resistant, ultra-high temperature valve position indicators for valves in nuclear applications, such as regulator pilot operated safety valves, regulator spray valves. LVDT position sensors can be used alone or assembled. ABEK can customize interfaces according to the requirements of customer installation structure, and can provide a full range of position measurement solutions from LVDT position sensors, LVDT signal conditioners, signal acquisition and processing equipment, etc.
Contact us
Do you have any questions or need a quotation? We are always ready to offer help!
Fill out the form and a member of our sales team will contact you to discuss your requirements. You can also call +86 18614278800