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Since the magnetic force generated by the solenoid is in direct proportion to the
current flowing through the solenoid coil, the spring force will overcome the force
generated by the solenoid for a short period of time, twice per period. This is a
problem which manifests as a vibration of the armature, which produces a humming
sound and can cause stress on solenoid valve components. To avoid this issue, a
simple conductive ring, termed a shading ring, is installed near the coil around the
armature. The shading ring is usually made from copper. The function of a shading
ring is to store magnetic field energy and release it with a 90 degree phase
difference.
The effect of a shading ring is that while the magnetic field generated by the primary
coil decreases towards zero, the magnetic field generated by the shading ring peaks,
effectively filling in the gap in the magnetic field amplitude during zero crossings,
eliminating the vibrations. Most solenoid valves that can be used with different coil
voltages have a built-in shading ring.
If dirt collects around the armature, the effect of the shading ring may be limited and
another solution is required. An example of another solution is the use of an
electronic circuit which filters the solenoid current, so that there are no zero-
crossings. This circuitry can be embedded into the solenoid valve coil itself or it can
be built externally. It is usually implemented using rectifier diodes and a filtering
capacitor in a full-wave rectifier topology.