Valve Knowledge Classroom (Lesson 4): Should You Choose an Electric or Pneumatic Valve?

Pneumatic valves use compressed air as their driving force. When purchasing a pneumatic valve, specifying size, type, and nominal pressure is sufficient for procurement. Pneumatic valves can control the flow of various fluids, including air, water, steam, corrosive media, slurry, oil, liquid metals, and radioactive substances.

Electric valves provide greater torque compared to standard valves and perform well with liquid media and large-diameter gas pipelines. They are not affected by climate or air pressure. The opening and closing speed of electric valves can be adjusted, their structure is simple, and they are easy to maintain. Like pneumatic valves, they can also control air, water, steam, corrosive media, slurry, oil, liquid metals, and radioactive substances.

During operation, pneumatic valves benefit from the natural cushioning properties of compressed air, making them less likely to be damaged by jamming. However, they require an air source, and their control systems are more complex than those of electric valves.

How to Choose the Right One?

1. Pneumatic valves operate faster than electric valves. However, electric valves typically support both manual and electric operation, whereas making a pneumatic valve support both manual and air operation is more expensive.

2. Electric valves are more suitable for large-diameter pipelines, where pneumatic valves may not be practical. However, electric valves are less stable than pneumatic ones, have a slower switching speed, and may experience gear jamming over time.

3. Electric valves are not ideal for explosion-proof environments, as few brands offer explosion-proof electric valves. On the other hand, explosion-proof pneumatic valves are more widely available and cost-effective.

4. Consider the local climate—if the environment is humid, pneumatic valves are unsuitable due to the risk of water contamination in the air supply.

5. Electric valves can achieve interlocking functions at no extra cost, whereas pneumatic valves require additional components (such as a position-holding valve), increasing costs.

6. Electric valves convert electricity into electromagnetic energy for operation, making them more sensitive than pneumatic valves. However, pneumatic valves offer higher reliability, simpler maintenance, and greater power.

7. Pneumatic valve control systems are more complex than electric ones. If automatic control is required, an additional solenoid directional valve must be installed, and its sensitivity directly affects the pneumatic valve’s performance.

8. If a factory already has an air supply system in place, it is generally more cost-effective and practical to use pneumatic valves.