A magnet of a solenoid valve can generate a limited force. Solenoid valves are also characterised by the way they work. A 3-way valve has 3 ports it connects one of the two other ports (usually an inlet port and an outlet port).

There are also 3-way and more complicated designs. Similarly, if the valve is closed when the solenoid is not activated, then the valve is normally called closed (NC). If the valve is open when the solenoid valve is not live, then the valve is normally called open (N.O.). For example, a 2-way solenoid valve has 2 ports when the valve is open, the two ports are connected and fluid can flow between them when the valve is closed, the ports are insulated. Solenoid valves can have many ports and fluid paths. There are many variations in valve design. Solenoid valves (also called solenoids) offer fast and safe switching, high reliability, long life, good average compatibility of the materials used, low regulating power and compact design. They can be found in many areas of application.

The solenoid valve is the most widely used control element in the fluid industry.

Multiple solenoid valves can be placed together on a manifold. The solenoid valve can use a two-port design to control a flow or use a three- or multi-port design to switch the flows between the ports. The mechanism of the solenoid valve varies from linear operation, plunger-powered actuators to rotary armature actuators and rocker actuators. Solenoid valves differ in the characteristics of the electric current they use, the strength of the magnetic field they generate, the mechanism they use to regulate the fluid, and the type and characteristics of the fluid they control. A solenoid valve is an electromechanical device in which the solenoid valve uses an electric current to generate a magnetic field and thus activates a mechanism that controls the opening of the liquid flow in a valve.

Electric solenoid valve diaphram