Efficiency of solenoid
Efficiency of solenoid
(OP)
What is the typical efficiency of a solenoid, neglecting friction? This would be a for a solenoid cycling very fast (with a spring or something to return it to the starting position). Or more importantly, what prevents a solenoid from being 100% efficient (neglecting friction)?. I've found lots on the internet about efficiencies of electric motors, but not solenoids. Any help is appreciated.





RE: Efficiency of solenoid
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Eng-tips forums: The best place on the web for engineering discussions.
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
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Eng-tips forums: The best place on the web for engineering discussions.
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
And at high speeds windage losses.
The spring would have losses.
Any noise made is a loss.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
Pull in Time (Actuation Time)
The full time it takes from switch-on to the moment a linear solenoid completes its stroke, or a rotary solenoid has moved through its rotation angle. This includes the coil excitation time.
It is sometimes possible to reduce over all pull in time by over-exciting (over volting) the coil for a very short period (milliseconds).
Drop out Time
The total amount of time taken for the solenoid to return to its rest position after current is switched off. The drop out time will depend on the mass being moved and the influence of any springs.
Check page 512:
http
David Baird
Sr Controls Designer
EET degree.
Journeyman Electrician.
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
What definition are you thinking of?
Way times force divided by electric energy would be one possible definition. But hardly practical, since energy is also needed to keep the armature after it has moved.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
Bill
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"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
You have a very small linear motor/generator. People working on wave energy are looking at these.
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
However you may still be able to convert some existing device.
Look for a small radial engine to use as a platform.
Remove the pistons and replace them with permanent magnets.
Remove the cylinders and replace them with coils of wire.
Finally remove the valves and replace them with diodes.
You will now have a direct current generator working on the principle of inserting magnets into coils.
There may be a few small mechanical details for you to work out during construction, but I am sure that the gurus here will vouch for the validity of the basic principles involved.
Bill
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"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
Motor efficiency relates to power out/power in. This is tied to the actual work performed by the motor...in it's steady state of operation.
A statement of efficiency regarding a solenoid would seem to be related to it's work performed in moving whatever it moves from initial to final state. Thereafter (after it reaches its final state and begins to hold in), there is only a concern for consumption because no work is being done beyond that point.
RE: Efficiency of solenoid
Pressure equivalent = Solenoid force / Armature section area
This way you can compare the solenoid as an actuator to a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator. The "pressure" that a solenoid can develop is ~6 atmospheres for very short stroke and is limited by the magnetic saturation of the iron.
Hydraulic or pneumatic actuators can use hundreds of atmospheres and more.
Therefore, for large force actuators even for very short strokes a solenoid will me much larger than pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.