Instruction Manual
D103292X012
C1 Controllers and Transmitters
March 2017
27
Principle of Operation
The following sections describe the operation of a controller or transmitter using a Bourdon tube sensing element. The
operation is the same for an instrument using a bellows sensing element (key 71, figure 25) except that movement of
the beam is caused by expansion or contraction of the bellows or differential bellows.
Proportional-Only Controllers
As shown in figure 13, supply pressure enters the relay and bleeds through the fixed orifice before escaping through
the nozzle. Nozzle pressure also registers on the large relay diaphragm, and loading pressure (controller output
pressure) registers on the small relay diaphragm.
Figure 13. Schematic of Reverse-Acting Proportional-Only and Proportional-Plus-Reset Controllers
CONSTANT SUPPLY
PRESSURE
EXHAUST
EXHAUST END OF RELAY
BOURDON TUBE
FIXED
PIVOT
BEAM AND
FLAPPER
NOZZLE
VENT
INLET END OF RELAY VALVE
SMALL DIAPHRAGM
LARGE DIAPHRAGM
TO FINAL
CONTROL
ELEMENT
SENSED
PRESSURE
RESTRICTION
PROPORTIONAL-ONLY
CONTROLLER
GE23696
GE34724-A
E1062
PROPORTIONAL
BELLOWS
RESET BELLOWS
SENSED PRESSURE OUTPUT PRESSURE NOZZLE PRESSURE RESET PRESSURE
CANTILEVER SPRING
RESET
VALVE
RESET BELLOWS
PRESSURE SETTING DIAL
PRESSURE SETTING KNOB
PROPORTIONAL
BELLOWS
PROPORTIONAL
BAND ADJUSTMENT
KNOB
PROPORTIONAL-PLUS-RESET
CONTROLLER
A change in the process pressure moves the beam and flapper with respect to the nozzle by either expanding or
contracting the Bourdon tube arc. An increasing process pressure with direct action (or decreasing pressure with
reverse action) produces a nozzle-flapper restriction that increases the loading on the large relay diaphragm and opens
the relay valve. Additional supply pressure flows through the relay chamber to increase the loading pressure on the
control valve actuator. A decreasing process pressure with direct action (or increasing pressure with reverse action)
produces a nozzle-flapper opening that bleeds off pressure on the large relay diaphragm and opens the relay valve to
exhaust controller output pressure from the actuator.