It's been some time between the last update. This is primarily due to be focusing my time on completing a NASA SBIR proposal. This does not meant there has not been progress.
The initial design of the test valve had a flaw that in hindsight I should have caught. This issue is caused by having the coil body being 400 series SS. This ended causing complex and non-ideal magnetic fields around the plunger preventing it from moving as intended. This issue was mitigated on version 2 of the coil body.
Version 2 of the coil body is now 300 series SS which means that the generated magnetic field is now more consistent and behaves as desired. This body is not as ideal as it could be so a second body was designed that allows for a 400 series tube to be placed in the body near the plunger. This will create a stronger attracting force for the plunger so less current is needed. The 400 series inlet cannot have flow testing done with it as is because 1/8" 400 series SS tubing is not easily available and would need to be costumed ordered at this time.
The full 300 series body is able to fully compress the spring as desired with a voltage and current that is more comfortable to work with.
This means that flow testing, and spring sizing can begin with some additional additions. These additions have already been ordered and don't require anything major at this time. One addition are a gasket material to properly seal the valve to prevent gas/liquid from escaping through the test valve's threads, this is something that won't be present in flight valves as the valve will be fully welded. Another addition are very thin washers that can adjust the base height of the spring since some of the springs that were ordered aren't tall enough to apply any meaningful force to the plunger to seal the valve when off.
The hope with this is that I will be able to test the flow and have an early version of a flight valve by mid May at the latest. Since I won't know if I got the SBIR funding until late May anyways. Hopefully my next update for the valve will be with at least a CAD of a flight model that is being produced.
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