how does an electric solenoid valve work

Where Would I Want to Use a Solenoid?Įvery valve needs a power source in order to operate and provide control. When you switch it off, it stops being magnetic and the orifice closes. When this happens, the plunger actuates, opening an orifice and allowing media such as gas or air to move through. In other words, when you switch it on, the solenoid becomes a magnet. When you introduce an electric current to the coiled wire, it creates an electromagnetic field.

A solenoid is very simply a coil of wire wrapped around a plunger. How Does a Solenoid Valve Work?Įngineers employ solenoids in a variety of oil and gas applications as well as in cars, boats, and even home appliances. When you stop the current, the signal stops and the actuator returns to the opposite position (open or closed). The current magnetizes the coil, moving the plunger in the solenoid and sending a pneumatic signal to the pneumatic actuator of the valve. In order to operate, the solenoid must receive an electric current from a switch. The action of a solenoid is on/off or snap acting.

A “solenoid valve” refers to a valve that is controlled by a solenoid.

How does an electric solenoid valve work