Practical Fluidic Interface Guide for Electric Rotary Valves in Laboratory Automation

The electric rotary or multi-channel switching valve is a stepper motor-driven fluid handling valve designed for automated fluidics applications. This precise rotary valve automates the routing of fluidic volumes, allowing for the handling of aggressive fluids and switching flow directions as needed. For instance, in a multi-channel distribution valve, a common central port connects the stator and rotator, enabling the switching of flow direction between different ports with a rapid response time of less than 120ms for adjacent ports.

This switching valve can communicate through RS-232, RS-485, or CAN interfaces, allowing for multi-valve arrangements of up to 15 valves in one group. See Figure 1 for the wiring instruction. It supports group control and individual addressing, making it versatile for various automation needs. The wetted materials in the flow path are PCTFE/Sapphire and can be customized upon request.

Fig1. Electric Rotary Valve Wiring Instruction 

Our solution offers a cost-effective way to construct fluid handling modules for instrument design or laboratory experiments. We offer a range of options, including 6-channel, 8-channel, 10-channel, 12-channel, and 16-channel electric rotary valves. These valves feature small dead volumes and accurate positioning systems, making them ideal for use with industrial syringe pumps or piston pumps. They can establish various fluid handling modes, such as one inlet and multiple outlets (distribution mode) or multiple inlets and one outlet.

Electric rotary valves find wide application in analytical instruments. They are commonly used in precision fluid handling tasks, including but not limited to:

• In vitro diagnostics (IVD)
  
• Biological sample preparation and distribution
• Sample injection or selection
• Reagent recirculation systems
• Microfluidics sample delivery or perfusion systems
• Automatic reagent delivery
• High-speed sample enrichment
• Column back flushing
• Flow cytometry or chemistry analyzers
• Mass spectrometers
• Elemental analyzers
• Other analytical instruments

Fig2. Fluidic Connections Between a Compact Industrial Syringe Pump and an Electric Rotary Valve 

When constructing an enclosed fluidics flow path and interface between the electric rotary valves and tubing connections, consider the following tips:

• Use a tubing cutter to evenly trim the end of the tubing, ensuring no burrs or deformation of the tubing during installation.
• For standard fluidic connections, use 1/4"-28 UNF nuts and ferrules to connect regular 1/8" OD tubing to the Female 1/4"-28 ports on the valve.
• For large ID tubing connections, consider the following options:
• Soft Tygon tubing: Use a barb adapter to connect the soft tubing to hard ETFE or Teflon tubing
• Hard ETFE or Teflon tubing: Use a Push-to-connect John Guest reducer to join the large OD tubing to a regular 1/8" OD tubing, then connect it to the female 1/4"-28 UNF ports on the valve.

We are committed to providing high-quality fluid handling solutions tailored to your needs. Please feel free to reach out for more information or to discuss your specific requirements.