Fisher Fisher VBL Volume Booster Manuals & Guides

Instruction Manual

D103317X012

Fisher™ VBL Volume Booster

VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

Contents

Introduction 1.................................

Scope of Manual 1.............................

Description 1.................................

Specifications 2...............................

Educational Services 2.........................

Installation 4..................................

Mounting 4..................................

Pressure Connections 5........................

Supply Pressure 5.............................

Exhaust Ports 5...............................

Operating Information 6.........................

Principle of Operation 7.........................

Maintenance 8.................................

Introduction

Figure 1. Fisher VBL Volume Booster

X0648

Scope of Manual

This instruction manual provides installation, operation, maintenance, and parts information for the Fisher VBL
volume booster (figure 1). Refer to separate instruction manuals for information regarding the valve body, actuator,
and other accessories.

Do not install, operate, or maintain a VBL volume booster without being fully trained and qualified in
valve, actuator and accessory installation, operation and maintenance. To avoid personal injury or

property damage it is important to carefully read, understand, and follow all of the contents of this
manual, including all safety cautions and warnings. If you have any questions about these instructions,

contact your Emerson sales office

before proceeding.

Description

The VBL volume booster is used in conjunction with a positioner on a throttling control valve to increase stroking
speed. The booster has a fixed deadband (controlled by the seat‐to‐seat dimension of the supply and exhaust plugs)
which is factory set during assembly and testing. In addition, the booster incorporates soft‐seat construction and an
integral bypass restriction to eliminate positioner saturation problems that can occur with volume boosters that do
not have these features. Adjustment of the integral bypass restriction is necessary for system stability. This adjustment
does not affect the deadband of the booster, but does permit the control valve to respond to small input signal
changes from the positioner without sacrificing steady‐state accuracy.

www.Fisher.com

VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

It also allows the booster to deliver high‐volume output for fast stroking when large, rapid input signal changes occur.

The volume booster is used to improve stroking speed. If precision valve control is required, the use of a positioner is
recommended. If you use the volume booster only with an actuator, for on‐off control, the integral bypass restriction
on the volume booster must be closed (turned fully clockwise).

To facilitate diagnostic testing, you can install connectors and piping with the VBL volume booster.

The O‐rings and diaphragms in the VBL volume booster are HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile). HNBR demonstrates
excellent temperature capability and shelf life over standard nitrile.

Instruction Manual

D103317X012

Specifications

Specifications for the VBL volume booster are listed in table 1. Information for an individual unit as it comes from the
factory appears on the nameplate.

Educational Services

For information on available courses for the VBL volume booster, as well as a variety of other products, contact:

Emerson Automation Solutions
Educational Services - Registration
Phone: [phone] or 1-800-338-8158
E-mail: [e-mail]
emerson.com/fishervalvetraining

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Instruction Manual

D103317X012

Table 1. Specifications

VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

Input Signal

Positioner output

Hazardous Area Classification

Complies with the requirements of ATEX Group II
Category 2 Gas and Dust

Maximum Input Signal Pressure

VBL-1 and VBL-3: 5.5 bar (80 psig)
VBL-2 and VBL-4: 10.3 bar (150 psig)

Input to Output Pressure Ratio

(1)

Maximum surface temperature (Tx) depends on
operating conditions

Gas: T5, T6
Dust: T85…T93

Fixed at 1 to 1

Meets Customs Union technical regulation TP TC

Supply Pressure Ranges

(1)

When used in conjunction with a positioner or other
pneumatic accessory, always pipe the positioner and

012/2011 for Groups II/III Category 2 equipment

II Gb c T*X X
III Db c T*X X

booster with one common supply through a Fisher
67D, 67DR, or 95H regulator (see figure 4). A
high‐capacity filter, such as the Fisher 262K, should
be installed in the supply line to the regulator. Supply

Safety Instrumented System Classification

SIL3 capable - certified by exida Consulting LLC

pressure also must not exceed the maximum
pressure rating of the actuator.

Approximate Weight

Aluminum Body: 1.0 kg (2.2 pounds)

Operative Temperature Limits

-40 to 93_C (-40 to 200_F)

(1)

Declaration of SEP

Fisher Controls International LLC declares this
product to be in compliance with Article 4 paragraph

Maximum Flow Coefficients

See table 2

3 of the PED Directive 2014/68/EU. It was designed
and manufactured in accordance with Sound
Engineering Practice (SEP) and cannot bear the CE
marking related to PED compliance.

Connections

Input Signal: 1/4 NPT
Supply and Output Signal: 1/2 NPT

NOTE: Specialized instrument terms are defined in ANSI/ISA Standard 51.1 - Process Instrument Terminology.

1. The pressure/temperature limits in this document, and any applicable code or standard limitation should not be exceeded.

However, the product may bear the CE marking to
indicate compliance with other applicable European
Community Directives.

Ex h IIC Tx Gb
Ex h IIIC Tx Db

Table 2. Maximum Flow Coefficients

Instrument

VBL‐1 volume booster 2.5 1.1

VBL-2 volume booster 2.5 1.1

VBL‐3 volume booster 2.5 1.8

VBL-4 volume booster 2.5 1.8

FIELDVUEt DVC6200, DVC6200 SIS, DVC6200f, DVC6200p,
DVC6000, DVC6000 SIS, DVC6000f digital valve controllers

FIELDVUE DVC2000 digital valve controller
Low pressure relay
High pressure relay

Fisher 3570 valve positioner 0.25 0.25

Fisher 3582 valve positioner 0.17 0.19

Fisher 3610J, 3610JP, 3611JP, 3620J, 3620JP, 3621JP valve positioners 0.37 0.30

Supply Port Coefficients Exhaust Port Coefficients

C

v

0.37 0.31

0.13

0.19

C

0.15

0.20

v

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VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

Instruction Manual

D103317X012

Installation

WARNING

Always wear protective clothing, gloves, and eyewear when performing any installation procedures to avoid personal
injury.

System damage may result if a volume booster is installed in a way that it can be physically damaged.

Personal injury or system damage may result when service conditions exceed booster or other equipment ratings.
Exceeding the pressure specifications in table 1 may cause leakage, parts damage, or personal injury due to bursting of
pressure‐containing parts or explosion of accumulated gas.

Check with your process or safety engineer for any additional measures that must be taken to protect against process
media.

CAUTION

Do not use sealing tape on pneumatic connections. This instrument contains small passages that may become obstructed
by detached sealing tape. Thread sealant paste should be used to seal and lubricate pneumatic threaded connections.

Note

Do not use separate pressure supplies for the volume booster and associated positioner.

The volume booster may not exhaust immediately upon loss of a separate pressure supply. However, if the system is in a transient
state at the time of pressure supply loss or if changes to the booster's input signal are sufficient to overcome the deadband, the
booster will exhaust.

A loss of a pressure supply (either separate or common) to a Fisher 3582 or 3610J positioner will cause the positioners output
pressure (booster's input pressure) to decay.

Always pipe the positioner and the volume booster with one common supply. See figure 4 for typical installation
examples. A 67D, 67DR, or 95H regulator is required to provide sufficient capacity to supply both components. A
high‐capacity filter, such as the 262K, should be installed in the supply line to the regulator.

Mounting

The volume booster is typically nipple‐mounted between the pneumatic supply source and the actuator, and may be
used with piston or diaphragm actuators. Many actuators require larger casing or cylinder connections and
modifications to allow the booster to deliver the higher volume output.

The booster may also be directly mounted to the actuator by using an actuator yoke mounting bracket (see figure 2)
or casing mounting bracket. If a mounting bracket is used, remove the appropriate end cap screws and install the
mounting bracket. Install the end cap screws, re‐tightening to a recommended torque value of 12.5 NSm (110 lbfSin).

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Instruction Manual

D103317X012

Figure 2. Volume Booster with Yoke Mounting Bracket

HEX SCREW (QTY 6)

ATTACH THIS SURFACE
TO ACTUATOR YOKE

YOKE
MOUNTING
BRACKET

GE26237-Bracket

VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

HEX SCREW (QTY 6)

YOKE
MOUNTING
BRACKET

Pressure Connections

CAUTION

Do not use sealing tape on pneumatic connections. This instrument contains small passages that may become obstructed
by detached sealing tape. Thread sealant paste should be used to seal and lubricate pneumatic threaded connections.

The input signal connection is 1/4 NPT. The supply and output connections are 1/2 NPT (minimum pipe size
recommended for nipple mounting is 1/2 NPT). Connections to the volume booster should be made as indicated in
figure 3. Connections for typical applications are shown in figures 4 and 5. Ensure that the piping is of proper size to
meet the capacity demands of the booster and that you equip the actuator with properly sized input connections.

Supply Pressure

Supply pressure must be filtered, clean, dry air or noncorrosive gas.

WARNING

If a flammable or hazardous gas is to be used as the supply pressure medium, personal injury, property damage or
equipment damage could result from fire or explosion of accumulated gas or from contact with hazardous gas. The volume
booster has no provision for piping away the vented exhaust gas. Therefore, do not use flammable or otherwise hazardous
gas as a supply medium unless the unit is in a well‐ventilated area and all ignition sources have been removed.

Exhaust Ports

Exhaust to the atmosphere is through exhaust ports in the side of the unit. Keep the exhaust ports free of any
obstructions or foreign materials that might clog them.

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VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

Instruction Manual

D103317X012

Operating Information

The only operating requirement of the volume booster is the adjustment of the bypass restriction for stable actuator
performance. Although systems with different characteristics may require different adjusting techniques, the
following adjustment procedure is recommended when using the actuator for throttling control.

Note

When sizing the booster, select the lowest C
loop may lead to stability problems, thus requiring the bypass to be opened so far that the booster will never operate.

Prior to operation, turn the bypass restriction adjusting screw (figure 3) four or five turns counterclockwise from the
fully closed position. With the actuator in operation, slowly turn the restriction clockwise until the booster operates in
response to large changes in the input signal, yet allows small changes to move the actuator without initiating booster
operation.

that will meet the stroking speed specifications. Oversizing the booster in a closed

v

Figure 3. Volume Booster Sectional View

SPRING SEAT

HEX NUT

BYPASS RESTRICTION
ADJUSTING SCREW

PIN, SLOTTED
SPRING

BYPASS VALVE

O‐RING

HOUSING, BOTTOM

SUPPLY

O‐RING

END CAP

GE26237-Section

UPPER SPRING

INPUT
SIGNAL

HOUSING, TOP

EXHAUST PORT

HEX SCREW

UPPER DIAPHRAGM

DIAPHRAGM SPACER

DIAPHRAGM PLATE
ASSEMBLY (INCLUDES
LOWER DIAPHRAGM)

EXHAUST

SUPPLY PORT

OUTPUT TO
ACTUATOR

LOWER SPRING

VALVE PLUG
ASSEMBLY

LUBRICANT

If the actuator is to be used for on‐off control, the restriction should be closed (turned fully clockwise).

Verify that the capacity of the regulator meets the stroking capacity requirements.

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Instruction Manual

D103317X012

VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

Principle of Operation

Refer to figures 3, 4, and 5.

Because of the restriction, large input signal changes register on the booster input diaphragm sooner than in the
actuator. A large, sudden change in the input signal causes a pressure differential to exist between the input signal and
the output of the booster. When this occurs, the diaphragms move to open either the supply port or the exhaust port,
whichever action is required to reduce the pressure differential. The port remains open until the difference between
the booster input and output pressures returns to within the deadband limits of the booster. With the bypass
restriction adjusted for stable operation, signals having small magnitude and rate changes pass through the bypass
restriction and into the actuator without initiating booster operation. Both the supply and exhaust ports remain
closed, preventing unnecessary air consumption and possible saturation of positioner relays.

Figure 4. Typical Installations with Piston Actuator

VBL
VOLUME BOOSTER

E1212

SIGNAL

ACTUATOR

PIPE NIPPLE

TOP CYL

BOTTOM CYL

POSITIONER

SUPPLY

67D, 67DR OR
95H REGULATOR

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VBL Volume Booster

December 2021

Figure 5. Typical Installations with Diaphragm Actuator

SIGNAL

Instruction Manual

D103317X012

VBL VOLUME
BOOSTER

PIPE NIPPLE

SUPPLY

67D, 67DR
OR 95H REGULATOR

ACTUATOR

E1213

DVC6200 DIGITAL VALVE CONTROLLER
WITH RELAY C OR POSITIONER

Maintenance

There are no repairable or replaceable parts on the VBL volume booster. Contact your Emerson sales office if a
replacement VBL volume booster is needed.

Neither Emerson, Emerson Automation Solutions, nor any of their affiliated entities assumes responsibility for the selection, use or maintenance
of any product. Responsibility for proper selection, use, and maintenance of any product remains solely with the purchaser and end user.

Fisher is a mark owned by one of the companies in the Emerson Automation Solutions business unit of Emerson Electric Co. Emerson Automation Solutions,
Emerson, and the Emerson logo are trademarks and service marks of Emerson Electric Co. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

The contents of this publication are presented for informational purposes only, and while every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy, they are not
to be construed as warranties or guarantees, express or implied, regarding the products or services described herein or their use or applicability. All sales are
governed by our terms and conditions, which are available upon request. We reserve the right to modify or improve the designs or specifications of such
products at any time without notice.

Emerson Automation Solutions

Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 USA
Sorocaba, 18087 Brazil
Cernay, 68700 France
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Singapore 128461 Singapore

www.Fisher.com

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E 2010, 2021 Fisher Controls International LLC. All rights reserved.