Guide to Selecting the Right Solenoid Valve

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Introduction
Selecting the right solenoid valve can make or break the performance of your equipment. For procurement specialists, ensuring that valves meet technical, operational, and budgetary requirements is crucial. This guide will walk you through the critical factors to consider, helping you choose the right solenoid valve for your application.

Step 1: Understand the Application Requirements

Before you start comparing products, clarify the specific requirements of the application. Ask yourself:

• What medium will the valve control (air, water, oil, etc.)?
• What is the operating pressure and temperature range?
• Is the valve used in a high-cycle or low-cycle application?

Identifying these parameters ensures you choose a valve designed to handle the conditions without failure.

Step 2: Choose the Right Material

Material selection plays a key role in valve performance and durability.

• Brass: Ideal for water and air applications; cost-effective.
• Stainless Steel: Best for corrosive environments or when dealing with chemicals.
• Plastic: Lightweight and resistant to certain corrosive media but not suitable for high-pressure systems.

Always match the material to the operating medium and environment to prevent premature wear.

Step 3: Consider Valve Design and Functionality

The functionality of a solenoid valve determines its suitability for your system. Key types include:

• 2-Way Valves: Simple open/close operations for controlling flow.
• 3-Way Valves: Ideal for diverting flow between two paths.
• 4-Way Valves: Commonly used in pneumatic applications.

Look for features such as normally closed (NC) or normally open (NO) configurations, depending on your operational requirements.

Step 4: Evaluate Electrical Specifications

Solenoid valves operate with an electrical current, and it&#;s essential to match the valve&#;s voltage and power specifications with your system. Consider:

• AC vs. DC Voltage: Ensure compatibility with your power supply.
• Coil Wattage: Lower wattage coils reduce energy consumption.

Step 5: Factor in Maintenance and Longevity

Procurement specialists often overlook maintenance costs. Choose valves with:

• Accessible Components: Simplifies repairs and servicing.
• Durability Ratings: Check for IP ratings and cycle testing.
• Warranty: Protects your investment over time.

Step 6: Budget and Total Cost of Ownership

While upfront cost matters, it&#;s equally important to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO), which includes:

• Energy consumption.
• Maintenance and replacement costs.
• Downtime impact due to failure.

Investing in a high-quality valve can save significant money in the long term.

Conclusion
The process of selecting a solenoid valve may seem complex, but by following this guide, you can make informed, confident decisions that benefit your organization.

Need more help? Contact Texas Industrial Remcor for expert advice on solenoid valves tailored to your specific needs.

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To control pneumatic cylinders and actuators with fluid power, air flow must be reliably controlled, typically with a solenoid valve.

Pat Phillips, Product Manager, Fluid Power & Mechanical Products at AutomationDirect, wrote an article titled There&#;s a Valve for That, which ran in the November-December issue of IEN magazine. In the article, he discussed the variety of pneumatic solenoid valves available, along with ways to pick the proper type and style for each application.

Selection Criteria

Control of pneumatic motion extend, retract, open and close actions starts with clean, dry air supplied and exhausted from cylinders and actuators using pneumatic valves, often called directional control valves. Several selection criteria for pneumatic valves were discussed in the article as noted in Table 1.

Selection Criteria for Pneumatic Valves

• Valve actuation
• Valve types and configurations
• Number of ports and position

These directional control valves can be operated manually, or they can be solenoid-operated or air-piloted. Phillips mentions manual valves such as food pedals, toggle actuators, pushbutton and handles&#;and also discusses other valve types.

&#;Automated machines typically use solenoid-operated or air-piloted solenoid valves. These valves are usually activated using 12 Vdc, 24 Vac/dc or 120 Vac power. Air-piloted solenoid valves use a small electrically operated valve spool to switch air that operates a larger main valve spool, minimizing the amount of electrical energy needed to control the valve.  These valves have a minimum operating pressure needed to shift the spool.&#;

Phillips talks about how pneumatic valves switch air using poppet, diaphragm and spool configurations, and covers the common pneumatic valve types listed in Table 2.

Common Pneumatic Valve Types

• 2-port (2-way), 2-position
• 3-port (3-way), 2-position
• 5-port (4-way), 2-position
• 5-port (4-way), 3-position

&#;The type of work a pneumatic valve can do depends on the number of ports and positions, with several valve types available. The number of different pathways by which air can flow in or out of a valve are called &#;ways&#;. The number of states a valve has are referred to as &#;positions&#;. Regardless of the valve type, all valves have an air inlet port (P), and one or two air outlet ports (A, or A and B).&#;

Phillips explains operation of 2-port or 2-way, 2-position valves with one inlet and one outlet port so it is either open or closed as would be use for an air blow off. He also shows how a 3-way valve adds an exhaust port to fill or empty a pressure vessel.

&#;Adding an extra exhaust port is common, but it can cause confusion with some valve types. For example, a 5-port valve is still a 4-way valve with two exhaust ports, often labeled R and S. These ports are open to atmosphere, so they are the same &#;way&#;. With a 5-port valve, there is also an inlet port (P) and two outlet ports (A and B).&#;

Phillips explains how to understand and use 5-port valves, commonly used in fully automated machines.

&#;5-port valves are available in 2- and 3-position models. With 5-port, 2-position valves, the A and B output ports are in complementary mode. When one is supplied inlet air pressure, the other exhausts air, which works well for extending and retracting double-acting cylinders. 2-position valves are often spring return. During design, consider unintended cylinder motion after an emergency stop or during power on.&#;

A center or neutral position is available in a 5-port, 3-position valve. Phillips notes that with both solenoids de-energized, the center position will either supply pressure to both output ports, block both outlets, or exhaust pressure from both. &#;A closed center valve works well when holding a cylinder position. The center exhaust is used to dump air from a cylinder when not actuated, usually for safety reasons.&#;

AutomationDirect hopes this blog provided you a brief overview of pneumatic valves and some applications. And if you want to know more, download this comprehensive eBook, Practical Guide to Pneumatics, to help advance your pneumatic knowledge.

For more information on solenoid valves check out our valves overview page!

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