www.hpmag.co.uk HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS September 2025 41 Technical profile Key specifications include: Temperature range: –320˚F to 275˚F Pressure rating: up to 5000 psi Leakage: <10 SCCM helium at –320˚F Lohm resistance: 85 Lohms (fully open) (Cv = 0.24) Fitting interfaces: AS4395E04 (inlet) & AS4395E06 (outlet) Materials: Nitronic 50, 316 CRES, A286 CRES, cobalt alloy, polyimide seat For further information please visit: https://www.theleeco.com/ staff are skilled in mechanical systems but may not always have the same confidence in interpreting digital data. A pressure curve or vibration trace that signals impending trouble to a specialist can look like noise to someone without training. Unless data is presented in a clear and actionable form, there is a risk that information overload leads to inaction. Bridging the skills gap will be as important as deploying the technology itself. Despite these difficulties, the direction of travel is hard to ignore. Pressure on energy use continues to grow, environmental regulations are tightening, and the cost of downtime shows no sign of diminishing. Intelligent actuators, equipped with monitoring and diagnostic capability, offer a way of addressing all three simultaneously. They can extend component life, reduce waste, and support compliance by providing auditable records of performance and maintenance activity. Transition The UK is in a position to play a leading role in this transition. It has an established base of companies with expertise in both mechanical and control engineering. There is also a strong ecosystem of universities and research centres working on advanced manufacturing, automation and data science. By linking these strengths, there is potential to accelerate the move from pilot projects to mainstream adoption. The immediate priority, however, is practical implementation. That means developing affordable retrofit options for existing equipment, not just advanced solutions for new installations. It also means ensuring monitoring data is presented in formats that can be understood quickly on the shop floor, not only by analysts at head office. Partnerships between equipment manufacturers, integrators and end-users will be critical in shaping solutions that meet real operational needs. The evolution of actuators from simple force-delivering devices to dataenabled components is still at an early stage, but the potential benefits are tangible. What matters now is ensuring that the technology delivers on its promise without creating new costs or complexities that outweigh its advantages. If that balance can be achieved, actuators will move from being a background element of industrial systems to a focal point of efficiency and reliability. In doing so, they may play a significant part in helping UK industry remain competitive in an environment where resilience and sustainability are as important as output. Cryogenic check valve extends fluid control into extreme environments The Lee Company has expanded its precision fluid control portfolio with a new check valve qualified for cryogenic operation, capable of handling fluid temperatures down to -320˚F. This development represents the company’s first product designed specifically for ultra-low temperature service, and it comes alongside ongoing testing at The Lee Company’s dedicated cryogenic facilities. While standard acceptance tests are usually performed at room temperature to save time and cost, the qualification process for this valve was carried out with the component submerged in liquid nitrogen. Results confirmed leakage performance of less than 10 SCCM of helium at –320˚F. The new Cryogenic Check Valve incorporates fitting ends to AS standards, allowing straightforward integration into existing systems. Materials were carefully selected for compatibility with hydrogen and other fluids used at cryogenic temperatures, while the construction can be adapted with alternative materials to suit a wider range of environments. The valve is designed for aerospace and other mission-critical applications requiring precise fluid control under extreme cryogenic conditions. Potential uses include satellite propulsion systems, cryogenic propulsion and thrust vector control, thermal management loops using liquid hydrogen or oxygen, and life support or fuel management systems. By combining proven check valve functionality with qualification at cryogenic temperatures, The Lee Company is extending its expertise into an area where reliability and precision are essential. For engineers working with fluid systems in demanding environments, this latest development underscores how valve technology continues to evolve to meet increasingly complex requirements.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=