Solenoid valves are electromagnetic devices that are used to direct the flow of fluids through them. The fluid controlled is usually water.
Solenoid valves for water feeding inlets are generally used in household appliances like washing machines, dishwasher, automatic taps, garden sprinklers, etc. Solenoid valves for water feeding consist of a valve that is controlled by a solenoid.
Electric current flows through a solenoid that helps in allowing, blocking, dosing, slowing and controlling the flow of water. If the solenoid valve for water flow being used is a two port valve, then the flow of water could be switched on or off with the help of the solenoid. If it is a three port valve then the flow of water can be regulated over two of these three ports. Solenoid valves for water flow are widely used as they are very highly reliable, have a long working life, a quick response, low power consumption and a compact structure and design.
How do solenoid valves for water work?
The solenoid valve for water flow consists of two main parts: the valve and the solenoid used for controlling it. The solenoid converts electrical energy supplied into mechanical energy.
This is turn helps in the mechanical opening and closing of the valve. The valve being used may be a direct acting valve with a small circuit or a diaphragm piloted one. Diaphragm piloted valves use the small circuit and amplify it so that they can be used to control the flow of water through a large orifice. A spring may also be used to hold the valve in position when the solenoid is not activated. The solenoid is activated by electrical energy and it applies a differential pressure on the diaphragm which results in a flow.
The input pressure must be higher than the output pressure at all times, or else the valve would remain open regardless of the solenoid or the pilot valve. This is how a solenoid valve for water flow works.
What are the applications of solenoid valves for water?
Solenoid valve for water flow finds many applications, both in household appliances and in the industry.
Washing machines, dishwashers, automatic taps, automatic garden sprinklers, etc are some of the household uses for solenoid valves for water flow. In industry they are used mainly for fluidics and control. Fluidics is a branch of science dealing with the performance of logical operations with fluids just like with electronics.
Automation in industrial control, automatic transmission, unmanned flying, etc are just a few examples of fields that employ fluidics. Nanotechnology is thought of as one of the emerging fields for application of fluidics.