流控制，向后兼容和过时管理
Flow control is not a new technology. It was first seen in recorded history thousands of years ago: consider Roman aqueducts, ancient irrigation systems and water mills. Valve technology evolved during the Industrial Revolution and continues to do so today, leading to the advances that mean flow control innovates and improves as necessary. Today, flow control is found across a variety of industries and applications controlling the flow of liquids and gases. Actuators are the key items of equipment within flow control that have brought automation to an otherwise manual process. They are found within a huge number of applications across oil and gas, water, power, process and industry. Flow control continues to innovate, allowing operators access to the latest technology— even on sites that have been operating for many years.
执行器可以在电气，液压或电溶式功率上具有电动性。使用哪种执行器的选择取决于多种因素，例如位置，可用电源，阀门类型/大小，被控制的流体类型等。严重的高速故障安全或紧急关闭（ESD）职责在极端或危险的位置。一些电动执行器被称为专业过程控制执行器，因为它们提供了连续的调节控制。以一致性和可靠性为重点，它们非常适合燃烧，食品和饮料，水和电力应用。由于其可靠性和效率以及易于使用电源，因此在广泛的应用中发现了智能电动执行器。在石油和天然气应用中，他们受到青睐，因为它们不释放排放量（由生产气体供电的气动执行器也是如此）。对于那些希望增加资产正常运行时间的站点运营商的选择，他们越来越成为选择的执行器。
可以在执行器制造商的支持下对所有类型的执行器的专业管理，以防止由于过时的关注而导致现场停机。现场运营商知道与老化资产相关的风险。潜在资产过时的主要危险是对性能和正常运行时间的影响。如果资产无法有效地运行或全面运行，那么对生产和利润的影响可能很严重。资产损失或不良资产导致的计划外停机时间可能导致性能差，产品质量差和产量降低，这反过来又可能导致声誉损失和收入损失。
Technological advances now allows for specific obsolescence concerns to be met with upgrade processes. For example, Rotork’s A-range actuator was launched in the 1960s and can still be found operating many decades later. They are known as ‘SyncroSET’ actuators, with an external reversing contactor starter and local controls. A feature available within the IQ range of intelligent electric actuators, IQ3 SET, means that two situations that appear to be opposed (IQ3 technology with the set-up of an A-range actuator), is possible. The recent launch of Rotork’s IQ3 SET allows for backwards compatibility to the 1960s (including A-range), updating to the latest actuation technology without affecting existing plant infrastructure. It allows not only for immediate improved performance, but future-proofs the site for the years to come. As such, it can be considered as a key part of a site’s obsolescence management, replacing legacy actuators with the latest intelligent actuator platform. Use of IQ3 SET ensures budget predictability, improved performance and reduced downtime. Holistic consideration of the whole life cycle of an asset ensures diminished risk of failure and increases the ability to continue operation: it future-proofs the system, with seamless integration into existing plant architecture and no need to change existing cables or control systems. The very latest in flow control technology is now more accessible to customers than ever.
流量控制技术在我们所有人都依赖的行业（例如水，电力和制造业）中起着至关重要的作用。过时关注的管理是有效的资产管理策略的重要组成部分，可确保可靠性提高和继续运行。允许向后兼容旧产品的技术是支持现场所有资产持续高性能的必不可少的工具。