Solenoid Valves

By Srikanta Pati, Central Tool Room and Training Center, Bhubaneswar.

Outline


Definition Introduction Selecting a Solenoid Valve Valve Types
Direct-Lift Pilot-Operated Proportioning Valve

Ratings for Solenoid Valves Valve Porting Options Final Considerations in Valve Selection References To Explore Further

Definition
A valve is a mechanical device for controlling the
flow of a fluid or a substance.

A solenoid is a coil of wire that becomes

magnetized when electricity is run through it.

Introduction:
Solenoid valves use electricity to open and close an
orifice in the valve body, allowing or preventing the flow of a given medium.

This type of valve is opened and closed by a plunger

that is raised and lowered by the energizing and deenergizing of a solenoid.

A solenoid valve uses a solenoid to actuate a valve. This

lets you control the flow of water, air, or other substances with electricity.

Magnetic effect of electric energy

The possibility to convert electric energy in magnetic field energy is found in solenoid valves.

Selecting a Solenoid Valve (Slide A)

Valve type (two-, three- or four-way) Voltage Pressure Medium handled Materials (stainless steel, brass, plastic or other material) Port size fluid connection De-energized position (normally open or closed, ect.) Ambient conditions Approval(s) required (UL, CSA, FM, CENELEC)

Selecting a Solenoid Valve (Slide B)

Coil/connection type Current draw limitations Duty cycle (continuous or intermittent) Electrical enclosure type Life expectancy (minimum expected cycles per year) Maximum and minimum operating pressure differentials Orifice diameter Allowable internal leakage Ratings (NEMA 4, 7, 9, etc.)

Valve Types
Popular types of on/off solenoid valves:
Direct-Lift Pilot-Operated Proportioning Valve

Direct-Lift
A direct-lift solenoid valve has
a plunger that opens or closes the valve.

Direct-lift solenoid valves

usually have low flow rates and high differential pressure drops.

They normally have a quicker

response than pilot-operated valves.

http://www.omega.com/techref/techprinc.html

Pilot-Operated
Pilot-operated solenoid valves
use the fluid's own pressure for actuation.

The valves are either piston or

diaphragm types and usually require a differential pressure to keep the valve closed.

Because they do not have a

plunger, pilot-operated solenoid valves are normally available in larger orifice sizes than direct-lift valves. have quick response time and low cost.

Pilot-operated solenoid valves

http://www.omega.com/techref/techprinc.html

Proportioning Valve
Proportioning valves allow complete and
continuous fluid control.

An analog signal is sent to the valve for a full

range of valve positions.

Ratings for Solenoid Valves

General service (for working with common fluids).
Cryogenic fluids (for fluids such as liquid oxygen, liquid argon
and liquid nitrogen).

Vacuum (for working in and maintaining vacuum conditions).

Oxygen service (designed to provide contamination-free flow
of oxygen).

Valve Porting Options

Two-way Valves Three-way Valves Four-way Valves Five-way Valves Knife Gate Valves Abrasive Service Valves

Bonnetless Bonneted Extended Flange

Design Square Port Rectangular Port Thru Port

Final Considerations in Valve Selection

Valve response time Control fidelity Material Size Temperature/pressure ranges The signal is, for on/off valves, 120VAC, 12VDC or 24VDC For a proportioning valve, either a 010 V signal or a 4-20mA signal is used.

THE END
Thank You