Pneumatic Controller

A pneumatic controller uses gas or air pressure to hold a process valve at a setpoint—level, pressure, or temperature. Continuous-bleed gas controllers vent methane and VOCs as a normal part of operation. Intermittent-bleed and air-driven controllers vent less or none.

EPA pneumatic standards and company methane goals are why so many Permian facilities are converting controllers to instrument air or to electric actuators. The conversion only works if the air system can keep up and if the devices are actually changed, not left on gas with an air header nearby.

Redhead Services supplies instrument air packages used to drive these controllers on air instead of produced gas. See Quad O regulations and instrument air system.