| A solenoid valve is a device which can be used to | | | | of a substance to one direction only, and safety |
| control the flow of liquids, gases, and slurries. | | | | valves, which can release dangerous levels of |
| Also known as regulators, solenoid valves can be | | | | pressure. |
| found in almost any situation: chances are that you | | | | What is a solenoid valve ? |
| are sitting within a few feet of a mechanical valve | | | | A solenoid valve is an electromechanical valve for use |
| right now. There are a number of different designs | | | | with liquid or gas controlled by running or stopping an |
| for valves, depending on how they are being used, | | | | electric current through a solenoid, which is a coil of |
| and they can be found in a range of sizes from | | | | wire, thus changing the state of the valve. The |
| smaller than a pinky to gigantic. solenoid valves also | | | | operation of a solenoid valves is similar to that of a |
| vary from the extremely basic to the extraordinarily | | | | light switch, but typically controls the flow of air or |
| complex, and they are one of the oldest mechanical | | | | water, whereas a light switch typically controls the |
| designs; basic valves have been in use for thousands | | | | flow of electricity. Solenoid valves may have two or |
| of years. | | | | more ports: in the case of a two-port valve the flow |
| The term "valve" can be used to refer to human | | | | is switched on or off; in the case of a three-port |
| anatomy as well as a mechanical device. Valves | | | | valve, the outflow is switched between the two |
| throughout the body regulate the flow of blood, | | | | outlet ports. Multiple solenoid valves can be placed |
| oxygen, and body fluids. Valves in the body include | | | | together on a manifold. |
| the extremely important heart valve, which works | | | | Solenoid valves are the most frequently used control |
| with the heart to pump blood through the body. | | | | elements in fluidics. Their tasks are to shut off, |
| Individuals with heart disease may have their heart | | | | release, dose, distribute or mix fluids. They are found |
| valves replaced with artificial ones to perform this | | | | in many application areas. Solenoids offer fast and |
| vital body function. The numerous valves in the | | | | safe switching, high reliability, long service life, good |
| human body work together to keep things running | | | | medium compatibility of the materials used, low |
| smoothly in your daily life. | | | | control power and compact design. |
| Pneumatic valves have come a long way since the | | | | Besides the plunger-type actuator which is used most |
| development of the compressor over a century ago. | | | | frequently, pivoted-armature actuators and rocker |
| Starting with large manual and mechanical valves, | | | | actuators are also used. |
| they migrated to individually wired electric solenoids | | | | A common use for 2 way solenoid valves is in central |
| and ultimately ended up with plug-into-the-base | | | | heating. The solenoid valves are controlled by an |
| electronics allowing for a single multi-pin connector or | | | | electrical signal from the thermostat to regulate the |
| fieldbus installation. Today's valves are smaller, faster | | | | flow of heated water to the heating elements within |
| and more advanced than their predecessors and | | | | the occupied space. Such valves are particularly useful |
| offer many advantages that can be easily | | | | when multiple heating zones are fed by a single heat |
| overlooked. With advancements in ISO valve | | | | source. Commercially available solenoid valves for this |
| standardization, collective wiring solutions and | | | | purpose are often referred to as zone valves. |
| diagnostic capabilities, both end users and original | | | | Another common use for solenoid valves is in |
| equipment manufacturers are seeing significant cost | | | | automatic irrigation sprinkler systems. See also |
| reductions resulting from multi-vendor support, wiring | | | | Controller (irrigation). |
| simplification and decreased machine downtime. | | | | Solenoid valves are also used for air control, to |
| Numerous permutations of the pneumatic mechanical | | | | control fluid flow, and in pharmacology experiments, |
| valve exist, but the following are common valves you | | | | especially for patch-clamp, which can control the |
| probably see and use on a daily basis. The most basic | | | | application of agonist or antagonist. |
| mechanical valve is a gate valve, which has two | | | | In the paintball industry solenoid valve are usually |
| positions: open, and closed. A globe valve is slightly | | | | referred to simply as "solenoids." They are commonly |
| more complex, controlling not only the flow of liquid, | | | | used to control a larger valve used to control the |
| but also the amount, and is also called a throttle. For | | | | propellant (usually compressed air or CO2). In the |
| example, most taps are forms of a globe valve, | | | | industry, "solenoid" may also refer to an |
| allowing users to turn the water on and determine | | | | electromechanical solenoid commonly used to actuate |
| how much water is going to flow out. Manufacturers | | | | a sear. |
| also make check valves, designed to restrict the flow | | | | |