Home | About ICEweb | Acronyms | Actuators | Alarm Management | Analysers | Books | Burner Management | Can Open | Charges | Control | Choke Valves | Control Valves | Condition & Machine Monitoring | Composite Valves | Coriolis Flow | Corrosion | Data Comms | Data Loggers | EX Web | Education | Electrical Web | Emission Monitoring| Employment | Enclosures | Fieldbus | Fire & Gas | Fittings | Flow | Forum | Foundation Fieldbus | Fuzzy Logic | HART | Hazardous Areas | Health and SafetyHeat Tracing & Bundles | HIPPS | Humidity | Hydraulics | ICEnews | Industrial Ethernet | Instrument | Instrument Enclosures,Sunshades & Supports | Instrument Valves & Access | Laser Instrumentation | Level | Links | Manufacturing and Automation Safety | Modbus | Motion Control | Multiphase Flow | New | Networks | News | New Technology | Oxygen Analysers | Oil in Water Analysers | Optical Fibre Instrumentation | PH Measurement| Profibus | Pressure | Pressure Regulators | Pressure Relief Valves | Register | Rupture Discs | Safety Instrumented Systems | Samplers | Sample Systems | Security | Severe Service Valves | Shutdown/ESD Valves | Simulators | Solenoids| Suppliers | Surge & Lightning | Technical Information | Terminals | Temperature | Test And Calibration | Tools | TubingUltrasonic Flow | Valveweb | V-Cone Flow | Wireless | Wish List | Contact ICEweb |

Whilst every effort is made to ensure technical accuracy of the information supplied on iceweb.com.au, Keyfleet Pty Ltd and its employees accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by error or omission from the data supplied. Users should make and rely on their own independent inquiries. By accessing the site users accept this condition. Should you note any error/omission or an article offends please do not ignore it, contact the webmaster and we will review, rectify and remove as necessary.

Solenoid Valves

Please support our sponsor ASCO, the following papers are provided with their compliments. 

Considering Valve Specification & Installation, Flow Control - Best Practices & Technology to Ensure Long-Term Performance - Matt Migliore - When specifying valves for a given application, it is important to first determine the intended function. A lack of functional understanding is often where valve performance issues begin. The user, rather than fully considering the application in which the valve will operate finds later on that the valve isn’t all that well suited to meet the needs of the job it is being asked to do. Thus it is worthwhile answering a few simple questions when considering a valve purchase.

Solenoid Valve Technology,Technical Characteristics Function, Terminology and Construction types -A very useful overview of solenoid operation, construction, terminology and operating parameters.

How New Low-Power Solenoid Valve Technology Changes The Game - Fabio Okada, Jack Haller, and Manny Arceo - Process plants worldwide often place considerable reliance on low-power solenoid valves. They are used as pilot valves to open and close larger ball or butterfly valves, or on control valves (installed between positioner and actuator) for fail-safe air release if there’s a loss of power. They work by pressurizing or depressurizing associated actuators. A new generation of even lower-power valves is now changing the rules of the power consumption game. These products are of interest to designers working for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and valve assemblers, as well as for end-user engineers anyone who specifies solenoid valves for projects in refining, upstream oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, food and beverage, and power. This report taps the expertise of manufacturers at the forefront of low-power solenoid valve technology. It shows how innovation is offering new possibilities — and challenges — via topics such as integrated solutions, clogging and other reliability issues, usefulness in point to point and bus networks, other cost savings, remote applications, and relevant industry standards. Finally, it suggests which characteristics buyers should seek out in selecting the newest — and most consistently dependable — low-power valve technologies.

How New Lead-Free Regulations Will Impact Your Selection Of Potable Water Valves - Paola Gutierrez - Recent legislation in several states has tightened regulation of lead content in the components of potable (drinkable) water treatment systems. Other states may well be considering similar moves. This pace of regulation seems unlikely to slacken. The message from regulators is clear: Get the lead out. However, what options are open to construction end users and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of these systems? Construction managers don’t make the equipment they install. And OEMs often assemble most of their systems from already manufactured components. Of compliant components they can specify, which currently meet their requirements for price, reliability, and performance? This report examines the choices facing specifiers and purchasers of small solenoid valves for potable water systems. It weighs the advantage and disadvantages of brass, plastic, and stainless steel designs. Finally, it suggests the solutions that smart planners should consider for current and future use.

Functional Safety Solutions for the Process Control Industry - ASCO solenoid pilot valves are an integral part of the final control element for any safety instrumented system (SIS) or critical application. ASCO offers 3 solenoid pilot valve solutions that are widely used in the process control industry; individual 3-way pilot valves, manual reset valves, and redundant pilot valve systems. Each of these solutions are proven in use as a pilot valve in critical applications and in safety instrumented systems. Certified pilot valves per IEC 61508 Parts 1 and 2 are rated SIL3 capable for domestic and international markets (ATEX). ASCO understands the need to keep your process running, but also understands that the process must shut down when commanded.

Frequently Asked Questions about Solenoid Valves - Have a question regarding solenoid valves? This excellent resource may well have the answer. 

10.11 Current Concerns How Some Supervisory and Leakage Currents Can Affect Today’s Low-Power Solenoid Valves - Manny Arceo and Jack Haller - As fluid automation users embrace the advantages of new devices that draw unprecedentedly low levels of power, a few users are experiencing application issues that don’t occur with older, higher-power-consumption equipment. These issues center around supervisory and leakage currents generated by input/output (I/O) control systems. Such currents can cause problems when interacting with new low-power components such as solenoid valves and sensors. This paper will review concerns that can arise when applying low-power and electronically enhanced solenoid valves within certain control systems. It will outline the limited set of cases where problems can exist, and explain how to identify such cases. Finally, it will provide tips and suggestions for possible workarounds or solutions that users might consider after consulting I/O system manufacturers or their manuals.

10.11The Insider’s Guide To Applying Miniature Solenoid Valves - Equipment designers frequently must incorporate miniature solenoid valves into their pneumatic designs. These valves are important components of medical devices and instrumentation as well as environmental, analytical, and similar product applications. However, all too often, designers find themselves frustrated. They face compromise after compromise. Pressure for increasingly miniaturized devices complicates every step of the design and valve selection process. And missteps can wreak havoc. How do designers balance the needs for reliability, extended service life, and standards compliance against often-contradictory performance requirements such as light weight, high flow, and optimum power use? This report consolidates the expert views of designers and manufacturers with wide experience applying miniature solenoid valves for myriad uses across multiple industries. It presents a true insider’s guide to which requirements are critical for common applications. It also highlights new valve technologies that may lessen or eliminate those troubling compromises.

Valve Configuration Goes Next Generation - Today’s Online Tools Ease the Valve Selection Process - Matt Migliore - The process of fluid handling systems design, like many engineering tasks, has changed drastically with the emergence of Internet-based business over the past 10-15 years. And perhaps nowhere is this evolutionary trend more evident today than in the area of valve specification, as the era of massive binders full of product data sheets makes way for a new generation of online tools aimed at streamlining the valve selection process.

Optimizing Power Management in Solenoid Valves -By Stephen Glaudel -Vice President, Engineering ASCO Valve, Americas -This paper covers the basic operation of solenoid valves, including useful techniques and technology for optimizing performance, power consumption, and cost of operation, in either AC or DC powered applications.

Understanding Applications, Uses Key to Solenoid Valve Selection, Plant Engineering - David Zolobinski, William Mudd and Gregory Byrne - This paper covers common applications and issues associated with solenoid valves. It also has a very useful trouble shooting guide plus a section on new developments - Thanks to ASCO and www.plantengineering.com 

Solenoid Pilot Valves for Valve Actuation -  Bill Reeson - This paper helps users select the correct pilot valve construction for an application - Thanks to ASCO and valve magazine.

Not Your Father's Valve - "The Old Iron Workhorse Gets a Makeover" - Matt Migliore - This article highlights how microprocessors are enabling the development of smaller and faster solenoid valves. 

How to Install, Troubleshoot  and Maintain Solenoid Valves- Good Installation and Maintenance Tips.

Solenoid Valve Engineering Information- This excellent engineering information sheet details most of what you need to know in regards to selecting a solenoid valve.  It details maximum/minimum pressures and temperatures, viscosity, response times, valve seat tightness and degrees of protection provided by electrical enclosures (IP code)

KV Calculation from ASCO -This program helps you calculate the Kv, the flow rate and the differential pressure of a valve or solenoid valve. (Pressure, lenght and temperature unit conversion integrated in the program). This program operates with Excel™ software(Microsoft™).

10.11 Valve Sizing Calculator from ASCO - This calculator provides options for liquid, gas and steam and also has conversion tools.

10.11 Fluid Automation:The Unsung Contributor to Plant Economic Performance - A Management Brief From ASCO Numatics - Wherever goods and materials are manufactured, processed, or packaged, the process often depends on fluid automation components. These include fluid control products such as solenoid pilot valves, angle body piston valves, linear valve position indicators, redundant control systems, and pressure sensors. They also comprise fluid power products, which provide pneumatic and motion control. Examples: valve manifolds; filters, regulators, lubricators (FRLs); actuators or cylinders; grippers; slides; and gantries. New technologies and forward-thinking business developments have made these offerings faster and more reliable than ever before. Managers across the spectrum, from OEMs to end users, have begun to appreciate how often these fluid automation components play quiet but critical roles in total plant economic performance. Making even small changes in their performance can change the whole rhythm of the operation. So you prevent losses and drive gains throughout the business.

Please support our sponsor ASCO, more free literature and their comprehensive catalogue can be found on this link.

10.11 ASCO Introduces Stainless Steel Pilot Valves for Offshore Applications - The series’ unique design eliminates the dormancy or “sticking” problems that can occur in control valves installed in the pneumatic logic panels that control monitoring safety systems in offshore oil and gas production facilities.

Other Solenoid Valve Links

Need Solenoid Valve Information? - This website a comprehensive source of solenoid valve information Direct-acting, semi-direct acting, pilot-operated, pinching-type, latching-type, normally open, and normally closed valves are all different types (or sub-types) of solenoid valves. Knowing the basics about each type will help you to choose the correct one for your application.

To Repair or Replace? - Solenoid Valve Maintenance & Troubleshooting Strategy - Michael D’Amato - The small yet robust solenoid valve is a powerful electromechanical gatekeeper. It has the important task of controlling the flow of liquid, air, gases or particles for a larger system. Yet even the most reliable of valves can fatigue or become inoperable, thus shutting down or affecting a system’s performance. As with any mechanical apparatus, proactive maintenance of a solenoid valve can extend life and ensure consistent operation - from flowcontrolnetwork.com.

Understanding Solenoid Valves - Solenoid valves are highly engineered products that can be used in many diverse and unique system applications. A brief overview of the components and functional varieties of solenoid valves  - from achrnews.

Solenoid Valve Engineering Information from Spartan Scientific

Solenoid Valves Trouble Shooting Guide & FAQ - A useful troubleshooting guide from solenoidvalvesuk.

Solenoid Valve Common Symbols - From Connexion Developments Ltd

Solenoid Valve Seal Basic Guide - Selecting the correct sealing material for your solenoid valve requires an understanding of available sealing materials. Seals are usually the most limiting factor of a solenoid valve. The seal selection should take the following items into consideration;
- Chemical properties of the media
- Temperature of the media
- Pressure to be used
From solenoidvalvesuk

How to Specify Solenoid Valves for a Particular Safety Integrity Level - S.A. Nagy - Selection must be done with care and understanding of safety and reliability standards to avoid the risks associated with an operational failure of a critical plant system - thanks to chem.info