What is the difference between a combined solenoid valve and a straight-through solenoid valve?

Combined solenoid valves and straight-through solenoid valves are indispensable core components in modern industrial control systems. They have their own characteristics in structure, function, pressure characteristics, installation and maintenance, and can meet the needs of different application scenarios.

Combined solenoid valves are composed of multiple solenoid valve modules, which embodies a high degree of complexity and flexibility. This design concept enables users to flexibly configure different numbers and types of solenoid valves according to specific control requirements to achieve diversified control functions. Its modular design not only improves the scalability of the system, but also facilitates later upgrades and maintenance. Combined solenoid valves can simultaneously control the stroke and direction of multiple fluids, thereby achieving precise regulation of flow, pressure and direction. This makes it widely used in hydraulic and pneumatic systems with extremely high precision requirements. For example, in equipment such as machine tools, cranes and injection molding machines, the use of combined solenoid valves can significantly improve work efficiency and the overall performance of the system.

In contrast, the structure of the straight-through solenoid valve is relatively simple, and it is mainly used to control the on and off of the fluid. Its working principle is that the medium flows directly from the inlet through the valve and then is discharged, which is suitable for simple systems with low requirements for flow and pressure control. Although the straight-through solenoid valve is not as complex and diverse as the combination solenoid valve, it still plays an important role in some specific applications, especially in occasions where the control accuracy is not high.

In terms of pressure characteristics, the combination solenoid valve can adapt to a wider range of working pressures due to its complex structure and flexible design, meeting the needs of high-pressure, medium-pressure and low-pressure systems. This feature enables it to perform well in a variety of industrial environments. Relatively speaking, the working pressure range of the straight-through solenoid valve is usually relatively fixed, with a common range of 0.2MPa to 0.6MPa. If it works beyond its design pressure range, it may cause performance degradation or even equipment damage. Therefore, when choosing a straight-through solenoid valve, users need to pay special attention to the applicability of its working pressure.

In terms of installation and maintenance, the combination solenoid valve provides greater flexibility due to its modular design. Users can replace or upgrade a single module at any time according to actual needs without replacing the entire system, which not only saves time but also reduces maintenance costs. On the contrary, the installation of the straight-through solenoid valve is relatively simple, but due to its relatively fixed structure, it may take more time and cost to maintain. Once a failure occurs, the user may need to replace the entire solenoid valve, which undoubtedly increases the complexity and economic burden of maintenance.