Solenoid Valve : Steam

Solenoid Valves for Steam and Hot Water Applications.

Solenoid valves for steam and hot water applications have been designed to cope with the severe temperature and aggressive nature of steam up to 185ºC or even 200ºC and beyond, making them ideal for steam injection systems, flat irons, and dryers, laundries, steam boiler control and blow down, steam sterilising systems and autoclaves. Steam rated and hot water rated solenoid valves are available in Brass, Bronze and Stainless Steel. 

Steam and hot water solenoid valve seals.

Steam rated solenoid valves should be fitted with PTFE seals and high temperature solenoid valve coils to resist the aggressive nature of steam and can typically withstand temperatures up to 200° centigrade.

Some hot water solenoid valves are fitted with EPDM seals that can be used for even low-pressure steam to 4.5 bar or 150º Centigrade, as this is usually a cheaper option. However, in our view even though we can supply this option, it is better to use a PTFE seal for a hot application to provide a long and trouble free life.

Steam systems will, even when regulated, at some point see increases and temperature which will damage EPDM, so the initial cost saving is lost in downtime and maintenance.

Direct Acting and Servo/ Pressure Assisted steam solenoid valves.

There are two main types of steam solenoid valve, direct acting and servo or pressure assisted. A direct acting steam solenoid valve works from zero pressure and does not reply on any pressure differential to work. The solenoid does all the work with the additional benefit that all the steam or hot water will be released, leaving no back pressure if open-ended.

As servo or pressure assisted steam solenoid valve utilises the system pressure to lift the piston or seal, these are typically more cost-effective but do require a pressure differential to open and close. i.e. a higher inlet pressure to outlet pressure, typically 0.2 to 0.5 bar.

Buy steam solenoid valves.

Steam Pressure in Relation to Temperature. 

The temperature of steam in basic terms typically relates directly to its pressure. For example at normal atmospheric pressure i.e. 1bar absolute or 0 bar gauge water turns to steam at 99.6°C, however the more pressure that is applied the higher the steam temperature will be, for example at 10 bar gauge pressure steam will be at 184.1 degrees centigrade. This is why most steam solenoid valves are rated to 10 bar as they can withstand a steam media temperature up to 185°C. However some steam solenoid valves are designed to work at 12 bar steam which you can see in the below steam pressure to steam temperature conversion table equates to 191.6°C.