Process Equipment Update
4 As size and portability become more important for processes, demand is also growing for their valves to be smaller, lighter and better performing than ever before. Sean Ottewell
reports.
New smaller valves focus on high performance
T
he Precision Fluidics Division of Parker Hannifin, a global leader in motion and control technologies, has announced the release of its newest miniature proportional
valve, the VSO Max. This high-flow proportional valve provides flows greater than 200slpm while consuming less than two watts of power. “The VSO Max is a compact, high flowing
proportional valve that enables higher flows at lower pressures, which saves our customers power in their instruments,” explained Todd Milne, marketing manager at Precision Fluidics Division. The VSO Max is the latest expansion of
the Precision Fluidics Divisions VSO family of proportional valve products into a higher flow range. The company says its offers 18 per cent more flow while using 25 per cent less power than the nearest competitive valve on the market (Fig. 1). It can be used with operating
inlet pressures of up to 60psi, offers less than 20msec response times, and includes three standard control voltage ranges (5, 12, and 24VDC). The compact 0.68-in x 0.63-in x 2.08-in valve footprint features a manifold body and is oxygen service cleaned. Parker Hannifin says that as
systems become smaller and more portable, power concerns are increased - which is fuelling the demand for miniature, low power, light weight, high performance fluidic products. ASCO Numatics, a leading
manufacturer of comprehensive fluid automation, flow control, and pneumatics solutions, has introduced the ASCO 411 Series miniature solenoid valve that offers up to twice the life of competing products plus higher flow rate performance (Fig. 2). The new valve is ideal for applications in pharmaceutical, medical, analytical, and instrumentation products. “Now, original equipment manufacturers (OEM)
can receive the benefits of longer life, smaller size, lighter weight, higher flow, and lower power consumption - all in one miniature solenoid valve,” said Robert W Kemple, Jr, executive vice president, sales and marketing - Americas, ASCO Numatics.
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“The 411 Series dramatically reduces the design tradeoffs and compromises engineers must make in applying valves to their products.” The 411 Series’ novel plunger design significantly
reduces wear on the poppet and is resistant to internal elastomer swelling that can disrupt performance. The new valve has been tested to exceed 500 million cycles in normal operating conditions, which the company says makes it the longest-lived, most reliable product of its kind on the market. ASCO has increased the valve’s flow rate by
12-15 per cent over previous models, and the maximum operating pressure differential has been improved. “These factors will enable engineers to design products with greater operating speeds, higher pressures, and smaller volumes,” said Kemple. The new valve family incorporates a smaller, lighter weight plastic body that also achieves a 12-15 per cent overall weight reduction when compared to stainless steel and brass-bodied valves. This makes the 411 Series a good choice for miniaturised and portable medical devices and pharmaceutical products. Lower power consumption means the valve also is attractive for use in battery-powered applications. In addition, ASCO says it is the only miniature solenoid valve that is fully compliant with RoHS regulations. “The 411 Series is assembled
Fig. 1. The VSO Max offers 18 per cent more flow while using 25 per cent less power than the nearest competitive valve on the market.
and tested in a specially built Class 100 cleanroom that is dedicated to miniature solenoid valve production,” Kemple said. “Our valve’s exceptional reliability and its flexibility to address a wide range of specifications and operating characteristics provide the OEM with the widest variety of
design options.” For its part, Burkert has combined dynamic performance with compact design and a highly precise proportional valve in its new Liquid Flow Controller (LFC).
The company says that the integration of sensor,
control electronics and proportional valves into a single compact device make the LFC ideally suited for applications requiring the fully-automatic metered dosing of small amounts of liquids. It complements the company’s portfolio of compact fluid control devices for the measurement and dosage of liquids with a nominal flow rate of 10-600ml per minute and a span of 1:10. The LFC is based on the successfully
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