What Is A Solenoid Valve And How Does It Function

The basic definition of a solenoid valve is pretty much an electromechanical type of valve and its main purpose it to be used with gas or liquid. This valve is operated by the sending of electric currents that run through a solenoid coil. The most common solenoid valves usually have two or sometimes more valves. A two port type of valve can either be switched off, or on. Now a three port valve there is an outflow that it’s normally switched back and forth between two outlet ports. There can be multiple solenoid valves that can be constructed together on what is called a manifold. When on the subject of fluidics, solenoid valves are normally used for the control device.

The main tasks these perform are to mix fluids, distribute fluids, dose fluids, release fluids, or shut them off completely. Solenoids are used in many different sorts of applications, this is because they allow for safe and fast switching, excellent durability, very long life spans, great compatibility, use low amounts of power to control them and are built in a compact design. A solenoid valve generally has two main parts it uses, obviously, the solenoid and the valve itself. Solenoids are mainly used for things like fluid power and hydraulic types of systems, to maintain control over cylinders, also large industrial type valves along with fluid power motors.

Things like irrigation sprinkler based systems often times will use a solenoid valve with some sort of automatic controller. Also common household appliances such as dishwaters and washing machines use a solenoid valve in order to control how much water enters the machine. An odd piece of equipment most wouldn’t think to have a solenoid is a paintball gun. They are used to control a larger sized valve which is what normally controls release of the CO2 in order to propel the paintball from the barrel.