Valve and method for operating a valve

A valve assembly for a process fluid, the valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the valve body defining an internal passage that directs flow of the process fluid from the inlet through the valve body to the outlet;
• a valve element in fluid communication with the internal passage between the inlet and the outlet, the valve element being moveable between a closed position that blocks flow through the internal passage and an open position that permits flow through the internal passage;
• an on-off valve actuator operatively coupled to the valve element, the on-off valve actuator being configured to selectively move the valve element to the open position and the closed position;
• and
• an integrated controller configured to control the on-off valve actuator to move the valve element, and to receive signals from one or more sensors that indicate one or more measured parameters of the process fluid;
• wherein the integrated controller is further configured to:
• in response to receiving a first signal from the one or more sensors that corresponds to an open-position valve command, control the on-off valve actuator to move the valve element from a starting position to a first partially-open position of a plurality of partially-open positions between the open and closed positions;
• with the valve element in the first partially-open position, evaluate a first criteria condition for further actuation of the valve element, the first criteria condition being a predetermined threshold elapsed time;
• in response to the first criteria condition being satisfied, control the on-off valve actuator to move the valve element to a second partially-open position of the plurality of partially-open positions;
• and
• in response to receiving a second signal from the one or more sensors that corresponds to a closed-position valve command, control the on-off valve actuator to move the valve element to the closed position.