30 August 2019 http://www.designworldonline.com DESIGN WORLD
Design Notes
Edited by Mike Santora • Associate Editor
Enhanced thermal design improves life
of nuclear solenoid valves
If you manage or design safety-related equipment
for nuclear power plants, your solenoid valves may be approaching their
qualified life limit. Qualified life is primarily driven by material degradation
caused by radiation, thermal, and environmental exposures. One way to
obtain a longer qualified life is to select solenoid valves with a new and
improved thermal design for better heat dissipation. This design, which
incorporates the coil into an epoxy-encapsulated solenoid assembly, not
only lengthens the valve’s thermal life but also improves the solenoid’s
electromagnetic properties—delivering the same maximum operating
pressures at a lower coil wattage in most applications.
Improving traditional valve designs
A coil’s worst enemy is heat. Specifically, prolonged periods at excessive
temperatures can cause the coil’s insulation to degrade. In general,
heat can come from a variety of sources, including high-temperature fluids passing
through the valve, the coil’s electrical energy, or simply the air surrounding the coil. The
DESIGN WORLD August 2019 31
A coil’s worst enemy is heat.
Specifically, prolonged periods at excessive
temperatures can cause the coil’s insulation
to degrade. In general, heat can come
from a variety of sources, including high-
temperature fluids passing through the
valve, the coil’s electrical energy, or simply
the air surrounding the coil.
Design Notes 8-19_Vs3.LL.indd 30 8/5/19 10:59 AM