VERSA Blog

In the earliest days of solenoid-controlled valves, the power requirements for solenoid coils were extremely high. As a result, automating process valves was very limited in practice. In addition, plenty of consideration had to be given to specific challenges such as heat, large gauge wiring, and consistent power supply. 

Solenoid power consumption isn’t nearly as demanding in today’s world since high wattage is only 5 – 10 watts. However, the scale of valve automation has grown to a point where even the modern coil’s standard power requirements can limit real-world applications.

Versa Products has extended their online configurator to include V-316 Series 3D CAD downloads. The tool enables design engineers to instantly access the necessary information and CAD models for V-316 Series stainless steel directional control valves, adding accuracy and accelerating design cycles for manufacturers.

Versa is a respected player in industries such as energy, manufacturing, mobile, aerospace, and utilities, and engineers worldwide rely on Versa for their quality and durability. Now engineers can configure Versa V-316 solenoids online in an interactive viewer with detailed dimensions, and they can access 3D CAD downloads in 150+ native file formats.

Reliability in an emergency shutdown (ESD) system is paramount. Until now, there has not been a rational solution to cycle an ESD solenoid equipped with a Latching Manual Reset during a partial valve stroke test (PVST).

During this procedure, once the ESD is de-energized, the solenoid latches and will not reset on a signal due to the manual reset function. In most instances, a bypass circuit is created to PVST the process valve, which bypasses the ESD Latching Manual Reset Solenoid Valve. This test does not cycle and test the critical ESD solenoid valve.

For decades, Versa Valves has provided valves and filter/regulators for cold temperatures with our popular “-44” Low-Temperature option.

This option offers a wide spectrum of environmental temperatures ranging from -40℉/-40℃ to as high as +200℉/+93℃. It has historically been specified for areas around the globe that see low temperatures throughout the coldest months. More recently, it is being relied on by customers in areas with uncharacteristically large temperature swings, often within the same week or even day.

Although good Industrial practices always demand the use of filtered, clean, air to ensure a longer life for the internals, often no consideration is given to environmental ingress into the valves.

We find that many valves are installed with limited to no protection on the exhaust ports and the solenoid operators.

When valves are open to the environment, there is a risk of ingress from the weather, airborne contamination, dust, sand, dirt, and insects. Over time this can shorten the life of the valve and impede the top performance you expect.

No matter the industry, downtime is not an option. Even a short time offline can cost millions of dollars in production losses, not to mention the safety issue of sudden failures. Demands for modern efficiency make reliability more critical than ever.

With many industrial applications dependent on solenoid valves for process automation, it’s important to ensure your system is built for Real World Reliability.

VERSA has over 70 years of real-world experience. We know exactly what our valves are put through on a daily basis, and we know what it means to our customers to keep those valves running.  

Versa Products Company first introduced our V-series valve over 70 years ago. This robust, fully ported, and modularly designed valve was a truly innovative product for the time. It handled dirty air and provided distribution partners with a unique method to quickly build and supply the right valve. Most importantly, it offered Real World Reliability. The V-series was, and remains, the go-to-choice for high-reliability applications.

Versa’s shuttle valves are a popular accessory in a variety of applications that require OR circuits for automatic switching to the higher of two input signal pressures. One longtime user of our shuttle valves recently asked Versa to adapt our concept to allow the opposite: output the lower of two input pressure signals. Versa accepted the challenge.

Polar and other extreme temperature conditions can present significant challenges when it comes to ensuring reliable valve operation. The system must work safely and without interruption, even after extended periods of inactivity, which can be quite difficult when facing extreme low temperatures.  

When specifying a solenoid to operate in freezing weather, it's critical to identify the basic application needs and address the environmental conditions to ensure reliable operation. In an ideal world, a solenoid experiences a clean and dry media, proper installation, protection from adverse environmental concerns, and periodic cycling to “exercise” the solenoid. Of course, ideal conditions are often not possible in the real world.