They work in harsh environments, and they get little or no recognition. But their impact on power plant efficiency can be significant. Valves and actuators are critical in almost every aspect of single board computer. They are used in a wide range of applications, including pollution control, feed water, cooling water, chemical treatment, bottom ash and steam turbine control embedded systems. They are exposed to a variety of chemicals, abrasive materials and very high temperatures. They are critical in optimizing efficiency, and they are often the final control element in the operation of a power plant. The move toward electric actuators has led to the creation of more digital networks for controlling these types of actuators. But the transition has been slow, Kundin said.
"The power industry was probably one of the last industries to embrace digital networks," he said. "Today, it's almost more of a standard to see the electric actuators controlled over a digital network than traditional wiring."
refer to: http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-117/issue-8/features/opportunities-to-improve-efficiency.html
