New miniature valves reduce energy consumption by 75%

In addition to piloting larger valves and controlling pneumatic automation systems, small solenoid valves also perform a huge number of tasks hidden in devices that dispense, analyse, or process fluids in small quantities; anything from a lab sample analyser to a vending machine. The traditional design comprising of a single actuation armature driven by a wound coil has not changed in principle since it's invention two hundred years ago, (by Andre-Marie Ampere). Many industries have begun adopting green principles in the construction, operation, and maintenance of their facilities. One of the key factors in a successful green initiative is to evaluate power consumption and show improvements. Increased power usage has often been accepted as a necessary trade-off when moving to an automated system. By reducing power consumption by up to 75 percent, a microfluidic valve like the 6624, which employs a patented "hit and hold" feature in the electronics, can mitigate this trade-off. This corresponds to a reduction in design space of 54%. The resulting power reduction not only has a positive effect on energy efficiency; at the same time it also reduces heat emission from the valve, resulting in a reduction in heat transfer into the medium. In addition, the surface-to-volume ratio of the valves is optimised to enable the valve coils to release heat into the surrounding atmosphere far more quickly than could previously be achieved; consequently the amount of heat transferred into the medium is reduced even further. Click here to read more