Frequently Asked Questions

Go to our Documentation page to find our IECEx Quality Assessment Report, ISO 9001:2008 Certification, DEKRA QAR Production Quality Assurance Certification, and many others.

A 3-way valve cannot be used as a Divertor or a Selector, in these cases a 7 Way or 8 Way valve should be ordered.

No. The technical requirements for hydraulic vs. water service valves are very different. Options and designs differ based on the unique requirements and properties of these media. Please select the valve for the specific service. Contact VERSA’s Technical Sales team for advice on the exact options you will need.

Force is required to shift a pilot or solenoid-pilot valve. The shifting force must overcome the opposing force (often a spring holding the valve in one position.) The valve specification includes a minimum force required to force the valve to shift. The physical force achieved by a pneumatic valve is created when the pressurized media acts on the surface area of the pilot piston, creating force. The force is measured by the pressure (of the media) multiplied times the surface area on which the pressure is applied (F=P x A). The minimum pilot pressure is minimum amount of pressure required to create a force greater than the opposing force in the device, thus allowing the control device to function.

The advantages of the solenoid-pilot design are high flow capability, reliability and low power consumption. The disadvantage is that it requires a minimum pilot pressure to shift the valve plunger. The advantage of a direct acting solenoid is that there is no minimum pressure requirement. The disadvantages are limited flow capability and high power consumption.

Expilot is a term used to describe a solenoid-pilot directional control valve utilizing an external pilot signal. A pilot signal, often referred to as the pilot pressure, creates the force required to do work in the main body pilot valve. Solenoid-pilot valves utilize an internal or an external source for its pilot signal. An internal pilot source utilizes the main body media as the source of the pilot signal. A valve that uses an external pilot source does not utilize the main body media rather requires a separate, external pressurized source for the pilot signal. An expilot design is common when the pressure of controlled media does not meet the minimum pressure requirement of the main valve or where the control media need to be separated from the main body media.

A solenoid-pilot directional control valve utilizes a combination of a direct acting solenoid and a pilot valve. The solenoid direct acting valve controls the flow of a pressured media going to the pilot valve. The pressurized pilot media pushes on the pilot piston which creates a force (F=P x A). That force is used to move the plunger in the pilot valve. Flow control occurs via the configuration of the plunger. The action of moving the plunger controls the flow of the media. The advantages of the solenoid-pilot design are high flow capability, high reliability, low power consumption and simplicity of piping/installation as pilot lines are integral to the valve. The disadvantage is that it requires a minimum pressure to shift the plunger.

Direct acting solenoid valves are used to control the flow of fluid and gas media. The most common types of flow control are opening, closing, selecting different media or diverting a media. A direct acting solenoid flow control valves shifts via an electric coil. When energized, it creates a magnetic field that moves a metal poppet. The direct action of energizing and de-energizing the solenoid controls the flow of the media, turning it on and off. The advantage of a direct acting solenoid is that there is no minimum pressure requirement. The disadvantages are limited flow capability and high power consumption.

O-rings are available in various elastomeric materials. VERSA offers a host of different O-ring and seal material options to create the most suitable match of the elastomer to the specific application. The media, ambient conditions, lubrication and cycle rate affect the integrity and longevity of the O-ring. In ideal conditions, O-rings can and will last 10 years or more. Versa advises its customers to consult their local authorized Versa distributor to ensure proper O-ring selection and to develop a proactive maintenance schedule for your application.

Several VERSA valve families are direct acting.  Our direct acting valves include the entire E Family (E Series, E3 Series, E4 Series, E5 Series & EZ Series) and our D-316 Series.

VERSA offers different types of 316 stainless solenoid valves to provide the best match for your application. The available options range from simple low flow pilot signal to a very high flow spool valve; pneumatic logic relays with indication and various other types of safety latching mechanisms. Contact VERSA Technical Sales team who will quickly determine your needs and advise on the best Versa 316 stainless steel valve for your application.

Most vacuum applications use a 3-way, 2-position, normally open valve. The vacuum pump is connected to the valve’s exhaust port, the suction cup is connected to the cylinder “A” port and the inlet port is left open as a vent. Although the valve is a normally open valve, in a vacuum application it performs as a normally closed valve.

Yes, many VERSA valves can be used in vacuum service, depending on the specific type of vacuum setting or environment. Most common are manually operated, direct solenoid and remote piloted solenoid-pilot valve.

Reversing the flow through a V&T series valve may result in the valve not functioning correctly because the internal seals could be damaged. Please see “The Anti-Extrusion Principal.” Please note there may be options or other products that may be right for your application. Contact VERSA’s Technical Sales team for assistance with recommendations for your specific application.

Absolutely. Many if not all VERSA valves are rated for natural gas applications. Please note however, VERSA also offers a natural gas service option to enhance the performance and improve product life in a natural gas service application. Contact VERSA’s Technical Sales team and ask about the “NGS” suffix details. Available on VERSA V Series, B Series, V-316 Series and C-316 Series

Some of our standard valves are rated for water service but water is tricky – so it “depends!” Where appropriate we will recommend and specify the correct water service (WS) options to assure trouble-free system performance. Contact VERSA’s Technical Sales team and be ready to discuss the type of water in your system, your operational requirements, and the type of valve actuation you will be using. They will quickly determine your needs and advise on the correct valve options for your water service application. The WS option is limited to VERSA’s V&T Series.

Some of our standard valves are rated for hydraulic service. Please note however many also need options to assure trouble-free hydraulic system performance. Contact VERSA’s Technical Sales team to determine the exact specifications you will need. VERSA’s T Series is specifically designed for hydraulic service and our V Series can also be used for hydraulic service in low pressure (<100 psi/6.89 bar) applications.

Yes. VERSA provides a third party SIL certificate which indicates they are “SIL 3 capable”. The certificate provides the necessary information to calculate your individual SIL rating for your Safety Instrumented System (SIS) package. SIL 3 Capability Certs are available for our B-316, C-316, C-Aluminum, D-316, E-Series, EQE, QE, V-316, V Series and T Series. Each SIL 3 capable certified series has its own certificate and report. VERSA SIL 3 capability certs are available from your distributor or directly from VERSA’s Technical Sales team on our Technical Support page.

In a direct acting valve, the main body or poppet is moved using magnetic force generated by the electrical coil to shift the valve. In a solenoid-pilot operated valve, the main body or plunger is moved using force developed from the available pilot pressure. The coil in this case is used to control the pilot for the pilot piston.