Solenoid Drivers

Solenoids convert electrical energy into mechanical work. They are used in many applications to provide linear or rotational actuation in mechanical systems. A solenoid is a coil of wire that generates a magnetic field. When an electrical current is applied to the coil, the coil causes the core of the solenoid to be pushed or pulled relative to the coil, causing motion that is used to actuate something in a mechanical system. 

When actuating a solenoid, a voltage is applied to the winding coil to creating a magnetic field. The current takes time to build up because of the winding’s large inductance. The force on the core of the solenoid is proportional to the current. To produce maximum force to move the core, a high voltage must be applied to the winding to rapidly build the current. Once the movement is complete, a much smaller current can be used to hold the core in position. If the current is not reduced, power is dissipated in the winding, resulting in a great amount of heat generated by the solenoid. Solenoid drivers allow the current to be controlled over time to provide ideal actuation and limit the power dissipated to hold the solenoid in place.

A solenoid valve is an electromechanically operated valve which is composed of an electromagnetic actuator (solenoid) and a valve body. The solenoid-plunger assembly is the valve actuator responsible for opening and closing the valve. Solenoid valves are used in a wide array of industrial applications. The are used for general on/off control, process control systems and equipment manufacturing applications.