Four Principles for Selecting ASCO Solenoid Valves

Brand

ASCO/USA

Flow Direction

One-way

3C Valve Category

Industry

Application Areas

Chemical, Petroleum, Energy, Electrical, General

ASCO is headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, USA, with five manufacturing plants worldwide and over 1,700 employees. It has more than 60 offices and service centers in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. It manufactures and ships tens of thousands of ATS and related products worldwide annually.

To control various liquid or gaseous fluids and meet the needs of diverse applications, ASCO-JOUCOMATIC offers a wide selection of solenoid and mechanical valves, suitable for flammable, explosive, or corrosive media. Pressures can reach 150 bar, and temperatures can range from -50°C to 300°C. Sizes range from 1/8 inch to 6 inches, and operating types include normally closed, normally open, and general-purpose 2, 3, 4, and 5-way solenoid valves. Products are manufactured according to strict regulations and are widely used in industrial and commercial sectors. This mainly includes: control of air, water, light oil, inert gases, fuel oil, gasoline, steam, vacuum, cryogenics, high-frequency operation, liquefied gas, dust removal, vending machines, and corrosive media. To control various liquid or gaseous fluids and meet the needs of diverse applications, ASCO-JOUCOMATIC offers a wide selection of solenoid and mechanical valves, suitable for flammable, explosive, or corrosive media. Pressures can reach 150 bar, and temperatures can range from -50°C to 300°C. Sizes range from 1/8 inch to 6 inches, and operating types include normally closed, normally open, and general-purpose 2, 3, 4, and 5-way solenoid valves.

The selection of ASCO solenoid valves should first follow four principles in order: safety, reliability, suitability, and economy.

I. Safety:

1. Corrosive media: Plastic-coated solenoid valves and all-stainless steel valves are recommended; for highly corrosive media, diaphragm-type valves must be selected. 1. For neutral media, solenoid valves with copper alloy valve bodies are preferable; otherwise, rust particles will frequently flake off from the valve body, especially in applications with infrequent operation. Copper cannot be used for ammonia valves.

2. Explosive environments: Products with the appropriate explosion-proof rating must be selected. For outdoor installations or dusty environments, waterproof and dustproof models should be chosen.

3. The nominal pressure of ASCO solenoid valves should exceed the maximum working pressure within the pipeline.

II. Reliability:

1. Service life: This is not included in the factory testing items but is a type testing item. To ensure quality, products from reputable manufacturers should be selected.

2. Duty cycle: There are three types: continuous duty, intermittent duty, and short-time duty. For applications where the valve is open for extended periods with only short periods of closure, a normally open solenoid valve is preferable.

3. Operating frequency: When high operating frequency is required, a direct-acting solenoid valve is preferred, and AC power is preferred.

III. Applicability:

1. Media Characteristics: Different types of solenoid valves should be selected for gaseous, liquid, or mixed states.

2. Pipeline Parameters: The valve port and model should be selected based on the media flow direction and pipeline connection method.

3. Environmental Conditions: The highest and lowest ambient temperatures should be within the allowable range.

4. Power Supply Conditions: AC or DC solenoid valves should be selected based on the type of power supply. Generally, AC power is more readily available.

5. Control Accuracy: Ordinary solenoid valves only have two positions, open and closed. For applications requiring high control accuracy and stable parameters, multi-position ASCO solenoid valves should be selected.

IV. Economy:

This is one of the selection criteria, but it must be based on safety, applicability, and reliability.

Economy is not just about the product price; priority should be given to its functionality and quality, as well as the costs of installation, maintenance, and other accessories.

More importantly, the cost of a single solenoid valve in the entire automation system and even the production line is negligible. Choosing the wrong valve to save money can lead to significant damage. ASCO Solenoid Valve Selection Criteria:

1. Selection of Solenoid Valves Based on Pipeline Parameters: Nominal Diameter (DN), Connection Type

1) Determine the nominal diameter (DN) based on the inner diameter of the pipeline or flow requirements.

2) Connection type: Generally, flange connections are required for DN > 50; for DN ≤ 50, the connection type can be freely selected according to user needs.

2. Selection of Solenoid Valves Based on Fluid Parameters: Material, Temperature Group

1) Corrosive fluids: Corrosion-resistant solenoid valves and all-stainless steel are recommended; Ultra-clean edible fluids: Food-grade stainless steel solenoid valves are recommended.

2) High-Temperature Fluids: Solenoid valves made with high-temperature resistant electrical and sealing materials should be selected, and piston-type valves should be chosen.

3) Fluid State: Fluids can be gaseous, liquid, or mixed, especially for diameters greater than DN 25, which must be clearly distinguished.

4) Fluid Viscosity: Generally, any choice is acceptable below 50 cSt; if this value is exceeded, a high-viscosity solenoid valve should be selected. 3. Selecting Solenoid Valves Based on Pressure Parameters: Principle and Structure

1) Nominal Pressure: This parameter has the same meaning as other general-purpose valves, determined by the nominal pressure of the pipeline;

2) Working Pressure: If the working pressure is low, a direct-acting or step-direct-acting principle must be selected; when the minimum working pressure difference is above 0.04 MPa, direct-acting, step-direct-acting, and pilot-operated valves can all be selected.

4. Electrical Selection: AC220V and DC24V voltage specifications should be prioritized for convenience.

5. Selecting Based on Continuous Working Time: Normally Closed, Normally Open, or Continuously Energized

1) When the solenoid valve needs to be open for a long time, and the continuous time is longer than the closing time, a normally open type should be selected;

2) If the opening time is short or the opening and closing times are infrequent, a normally closed type should be selected.