Enlarging bore size of 2 way Parker solenoid

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Paolo
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#1: Post by Paolo »

I have a machine that has one of these



Can anyone tell me if it is possible to increase the bore size of one of these so that there will be less resistance for the water that passes through?

Many thanks,
Paolo

Billc
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#2: Post by Billc »

Yes you can but you will reduce the amount of pressure the valve is able to handle. The orifice size and the piston spring are sized to restrice a maximum pressure. If you increase the orifice side you effectively increase the force that the spring has to overcome to stop the flow.


BillC

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erics
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#3: Post by erics »

I'm just curious . . . what machine are you talking about and is this the boiler fill solenoid valve?

As an aside, here is an excellent "paper" on solenoid valves: http://www.parker.com/literature/Fluid% ... 0UKLow.pdf
Skål,

Eric S.
http://users.rcn.com/erics/
E-mail: erics at rcn dot com

Paolo (original poster)
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#4: Post by Paolo (original poster) »

Hi Bill and Eric,
I really appreciate your input here. The machine is a Quickmill Achille. The solenoid is in a "fill boiler only" line and probably there if the machine is plumbed. I use mine as a 'pourover'.

I am thinking that water being forced through the small orifice of the solenoid is the thing causing lots of noise and resonance when the pump comes on. Sometimes it is nearly silent but other times it is raucous!

My options are:-
*To make the bore in this valve larger or
*Put in another line from the pump to the boiler.

This second option raises 3 concerns for me:-
1)I don't know if I would need to have a check-valve in this line.
2)I am not sure what to do with the existing electrical wiring to the solenoid valve if I remove the whole existing line.
3)Whether John Guest tubing would suffice and whether 1/8" would be large enough.

The solenoid valve is viewable in Reply #127 in this thread:-
http://coffeeforum.org.au/espresso-mach ... -0996/100/


Many thanks,
Paolo

P.S. Eric, that is a great link!

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erics
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#5: Post by erics »

I am thinking that water being forced through the small orifice of the solenoid is the thing causing lots of noise and resonance when the pump comes on. Sometimes it is nearly silent but other times it is raucous!
Firstly, the orifice is likely on the order of 3.00 mm and any enlargement of it would alter the shape of the seat for the valve, likely initiating other problems.

Quickmill has, on other machines, installed a smaller orifice (~0.60 mm) on the discharge side of their rotary pump and I wouldn't be surprised if your machine was also so equipped. I would look for other sources of this noise - perhaps the motor mounting?
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Eric S.
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E-mail: erics at rcn dot com

Paolo (original poster)
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#6: Post by Paolo (original poster) »

Hi Eric,
Many thanks for your reply.

I have previously checked the rubber mounted system that QM has used to support and isolate the rotary motor (and pump) and all is well there.

When I open the cover and have another look inside, I will remove the hose from the rotary pump to the solenoid and have a look at the outlet port of it. I have another rotary pump that I can use as a comparison. If a new rotary pump rectifies the situation it will be a pleasing find.



In the initial (only?) Australian batch of 6 Achille machines, all owners stated that their machines were noisy. Mine, believe it or not, was not too bad but still noisier than the rotary pump on my LM Linea.

E-mails were sent to the Quick Mill factory and the factory reply was (translated)...
"since it is quite technical ..
what is set to the pressure of the pump?

If you decide to use the machine with water tank,
I suggest you remove the solenoid input, by doing so eliminate bottlenecks early, reducing the
noise of the pump .."


(I tried reducing the pressure of the pump and the noise level reduced under most occasions....but magnified under others.)


On a Coffeesnobs thread, an Achille was silenced by a technician with a "Greatly enlarged inlet solenoid. It's silent on tank or when plumbed."

If a rotary pump swap is no help, I will probably try to match up a hose connecting the pump directly to the inlet port of the boiler and listen to the pump noise. One of the existing hoses may actually fit. Do you think that the line will require a check-valve?

I appreciate any help/guidance that I can get with this situation.

Cheers,
Paolo

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erics
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#7: Post by erics »

I'm just giving a quickie response - maybe more the next day. I would simply remove the pump from the machine, set an appropriate weight in its place, and observe the noise level. You do need to compensate for the removal of the motor/pump.

As you might expect, I am NOT familiar with this machine at all but surely there exists some experience on that other forum you referenced.
Skål,

Eric S.
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erics
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#8: Post by erics »

Do you think that the line will require a check-valve?
Yes, but there should already be a check valve in your machine's hydraulics.
Skål,

Eric S.
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E-mail: erics at rcn dot com