Festo VEAE Series Piezo Valve

The Festo VEAE Series Piezo Valve is a proportional 2/2-way valve in which a piezo actuator is electrically controlled. The flow rate can be controlled via a closed-loop control circuit by integrating a flow sensor in the output line. In the normal position, the valve is closed. Pressure supplied at port 1 supports the closing function.

The piezo actuator is controlled using variable voltage to give proportional closed-loop control. This allows either the pressure or flow rate to be controlled, depending on the design. The pressure or flow behavior is controlled by integrating a sensor in the output line of the closed-loop control circuit. The piezo valve VEAE exhibits the typical hysteresis behavior of a proportional valve. Linear behavior can be achieved by combining control electronics with a flow sensor.

Compared with solenoid valves, proportional valves with piezo technology require virtually no energy to maintain an active state thanks to their capacitive principle. The piezo valve operates like a capacitor: it needs current only at the start in order to charge the piezoceramics. No further energy is needed to maintain its state, meaning the valves generate no heat. They consume up to 95% less energy than solenoid valves, which permanently require an electrical current. For an EMERGENCY OFF circuit, in which the valve is meant to close, the piezo valve connection needs to be earthed. In the event of a simple separation of the connection, the piezo actuator remains in its current position for a while due to its capacitive principle.