Valve assembly with equal percentage flow control

A method for operating a valve assembly comprising:

• receiving, at a communications interface of an electronic actuator controller, a linear control mode signal for an electronically-controllable actuator, the linear control mode signal configured to operate the electronically-controllable actuator to a first actuator position setpoint;
• applying, by a processing circuit of the electronic actuator controller, an equal percentage flow algorithm to the linear control mode signal, the equal percentage flow algorithm comprising at least one equation used to convert the linear control mode signal to an equal percentage mode signal;
• and
• transmitting, by the communications interface of the electronic actuator controller, the equal percentage mode signal to the electronically-controllable actuator, the equal percentage mode signal configured to operate the electronically-controllable actuator to a second actuator position setpoint such that a flow rate through the valve assembly is proportional to the linear control mode signal.

A system for controlling fluid flow comprising:

• a valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber;
• and
• a valve member located within the valve chamber and comprising a ball having a fluid passage extending therethrough;
• an electronically-controllable actuator for rotating the valve member between the first end position and the second end position, the first end position approximately 270 degrees from the second end position;
• and
• an electronic actuator controller comprising:
• a communications interface configured to receive a linear control mode signal and to transmit an equal percentage mode signal;
• and
• a processing circuit coupled to the electronically-controllable actuator and the communications interface and configured to determine the equal percentage mode signal using an equal percentage flow algorithm, the equal percentage flow algorithm comprising at least one equation used to convert the linear control mode signal to the equal percentage mode signal;
• wherein the equal percentage mode signal is configured to operate the electronically-controllable actuator to an actuator position setpoint such that a flow rate through the valve assembly is proportional to the linear control mode signal.