Micro-valve type 6712

Ingelfingen – The requirements for fluid control systems in medical technologies is stringent. The goal is to minimize liquid consumption, the size, the dosing and wash cycles, and above all, the distance to the application. Tailored to meet these requirements, Bürkert has developed a new micro-valve.

With a width of just 7mm and a height of 26mm, the micro-valve fits in miniature apparatus. The 7mm width makes it ideal for 9mm titre plates, but it can also be installed in smaller spaces. For applications on dispensing arms, pipetting arms, and dosing robots the low overall weight of the valve is an advantage. The power consumption of the WhisperValve is also low: in both switching and holding it uses less than 1W, eliminating the need for expensive, space-consuming electronics are needed for power reduction.

The name of the micro-valve – WhisperValve – reveals another special property of the new media separated 2/2-way valve. With its non-impact actuator, it controls the flow rate very quietly. The new actuator is designed to operate at a sound level below 36dB. The typical metal-to-metal contact noise of a solenoid valve is eliminated in the WhisperValve. This is an advantage not only for the patient, but also for the lab employee, who enjoys a quieter work environment.

Due to its compact size and excellent flushability, the new micro-valve is ideal for applications in lab environments. 

A minimal internal volume, including the valve flange, of only 5µl, achieves ideal flushing properties of the valve. In the new valve, Bürkert engineers have effectively minimized the accumulation of air bubbles, a frequent problem in smaller valves due to the poor flushability. With a pressure differential of 1 bar, the longest dwell time of a fluid is 5ms. In addition to high dosing precision, the requirement for exact flow rates is also increasing in diagnostics and other applications. For manufacturers of fluid control components, that means increasing the power density of the actuators, so that smaller valves can also switch high pressures. Compared to similar sized valves the pressure working range of Type 6712 is very high, at 3 bar (0.3MPa) during switching and 8 bar (0.8MPa) during the flushing process of the open valve.

The Type 6712 is ideal for all point-of-use or point-of-care applications because it sets a new standard in speed, size, acoustic volume, and cleanability.

Bürkert