Solenoid valve for a cryogenic fluid

[Yasir132]

Hello everyone!

I am new to these forums and glad to see a great community helping out each other.

I have a question regarding a solenoid valve design. What should be the design ethics and safety considerations for a 240 volts AC connected solenoid valve that is used for a cryogenic vessel containing liquid nitrogen?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[anorlunda]

Is it your concern that lose of power would open the valve and let the nitrogen leak out?

 

[Yasir132]

Yes one of the concerns is that. But what could be other safety related aspects apart from the leakage?

 

[anorlunda]

Solenoid valves come two ways. One needs power to keep it closed and the other needs power to keep it open. Which kind do you have?

A valve of any type could freeze up, especially when open and liquid nitrogen flows out.

 

[Yasir132]

Solenoid valves come two ways. One needs power to keep it closed and the other needs power to keep it open. Which kind do you have?

A valve of any type could freeze up, especially when open and liquid nitrogen flows out.

It needs power to keep it open

 

[berkeman]

The solenoid valve would likely be what they use in the LNO2 versions of these environmental chambers. Is this similar to what you are doing?

http://www.sunelectronics.com/Temperature-Test-Chambers.html

 

[Yasir132]

Sorry, i do not have an idea of the actual solenoid application. I have seen quite a lot of videos but there seems to be many types.

Its just a designing project in which i just have to write safety aspects in its design. I am thinking of leakage but there could also be spring failure and many other safety issues?

 

[anorlunda]

Other types of valves can have springs.

In that case, the hazards I see apply to any valve, not specifically to a solenoid operated valve.

Nitrogen is not flammable, so sparks are not an issue.

 

[jim hardy]

What should be the design ethics and safety considerations for a 240 volts AC connected solenoid valve that is used for a cryogenic vessel containing liquid nitrogen?

wow .

there's a valve for every purpose under heaven.

My advice is start with cryogenic valve catalogs and see what terms they use.
What comes to mind for me is materials .
Seals must not get brittle at low temperature, thermal expansion of moving parts must match so as to not cause binding, insulation on wires must withstand the cold as must plastic housings.

Then start googling those terms. With any luck you'll run into some "white papers" written for valve designers.

Here's a couple of catalogs to get you started
http://www.valcor.com/scientific-and-industrial/cryogenic-solenoid-valves/
http://www.asco.com/ASCO Asset Library/asco-cryogenic-valves-catalog.pdf

old jim