Solenoid valves are installed to regulate the flow of fluids such as electricity, water, oil, and air. There are two types of solenoid valves mainly used in Japan: the spool type and the poppet type. What is the difference between these two solenoid valves?
This time, we will introduce the differences between spool type solenoid valves and poppet type solenoid valves.
Features of the spool type solenoid valve
A spool-type solenoid valve adjusts the flow of fluid by moving a shaft called a spool up and down inside a tube through which the fluid flows. When the fluid needs to flow, the spool is recessed above the shaft to keep it out of the way. And when it is necessary to stop the flow, the spool comes down from the gap and stops the flow.
There are mainly two types of spool type solenoid valves: metal seal type and soft seal type. The metal seal type has grooves on the contact surface when the spool is fully closed, while the soft seal type does not have grooves on the contact surface. The soft-seal type, which does not have grooves, has less leakage and can completely block the flow, so the soft-seal type is mainly used in Japan.
The reaction speed of the spool type is fast, and the spool can be quickly switched between fully open and fully closed for smooth work. However, due to the spool type structure, it cannot be disassembled and repaired when it breaks down. Foreign matter such as dust can cause malfunction of the spool, so take measures to prevent failures, such as removing foreign matter contained in the fluid regularly and installing a dust removal filter. In addition, in order to maintain the smooth operation of the spool type solenoid valve, regular lubrication is essential to move the spool quickly.
Features of poppet type solenoid valve
A poppet solenoid valve regulates the flow of fluid by inserting or withdrawing the valve from the outlet for discharging the fluid. Fluid flow can be adjusted simply by moving the valve in and out, allowing quick switching between fully open and fully closed. Although it has a simple structure, it is often cheaper than the spool type in terms of size, and it does not require lubrication to maintain smooth operation of the solenoid valve.
A major feature of the poppet type is that it can handle a larger amount of fluid than the spool type. In addition, unlike the spool type, the poppet type inserts the valve directly into the outlet, so fluid rarely leaks through gaps. Since there are almost no gaps through which foreign objects such as dust can pass, it is rare for malfunctions due to accumulation of dust and related failures to occur.
The poppet type is mainly used for caser vacuum valves, glass bottle molding blows, and can manufacturing machine blows.
If production efficiency is important, use a poppet type solenoid valve
Currently, the demand for large-sized production machines is increasing in order to cope with mass production. Since such mass production machines handle a large amount of fluid, it is recommended to use a poppet type solenoid valve rather than a spool type. In addition, the durability of the poppet type is superior to that of the spool type, so production loss due to solenoid valve failure can be reduced. In addition, large production machines require a large number of solenoid valves, so using a spool type requires a large amount of oil to maintain operation.
The spool type can quickly switch the fluid flow. However, due to its shortcomings in durability and the amount of fluid it can handle, it is not suitable for use in machines for mass production. Poppets, on the other hand, are responsive, durable, and can handle large volumes of fluid. Therefore, it is suitable as a solenoid valve for mass production machines.
If you want to increase your productivity efficiency, the poppet style is the way to go.