Proportional directional valve with electronic onboard certified for explosion-hazardous areas

18.03.2025, Munich

Manufacturers of mining machinery, oil and gas plants and chemical plants can now also use the tried-and-tested PSL-CAN directional spool valve with onboard electronics from HAWE Hydraulik in potentially explosive atmospheres. The actuating head has been redesigned to comply with current regulations such as ATEX, IECEx, MA and CCC. The combination of intelligent valve control, simple commissioning and compact design is thus finding its way into many other areas of application. This creates the prerequisite for fully automated operation, even underground, e.g. in a man-free mine.

“During development, it was particularly important to us not to have to give up the advantages of electrically linking the individual valve segments, even in potentially explosive atmospheres. As a result, the machine manufacturer simply connects the preconfigured control block to the machine control system with a single cable for the CAN bus and power supply”, explains the responsible product manager, Marcus Hofmann. The high repeat accuracy, achieved by a very low hysteresis, is particularly interesting for recurring movements. The CAN actuating head is pressure-proof encapsulated. The daisy chain – i.e. the connection of several hardware components in a row – was implemented with EX-approved cables and screw connections and reaches the customer pre-assembled and adjusted for plug & play. The option of being able to adjust the control piston cams with the directly mounted onboard electronics also allows for fine control or electronic flow distribution (flow sharing).

Up to 10 valve segments in 3 sizes from the modular system can be combined in one control block. This results in a robust and resistant control block that also controls the individual functions reliably and highly dynamically. The valves are available in series and flange design and thus achieve flow rates from 0 to 1000 l/min. This makes them interesting for fine control in precision machines, but also for larger mining machines. The certification covers use in environments with gas and dust as well as mines. HAWE Hydraulik's product range includes further components for setting up an explosion-protected system solution. These include high-pressure pumps, axial piston pumps, directional seated valves and complete customized hydraulic power units.

Visit HAWE at bauma in Munich from April 7-13 at booth 348 in hall A3 to learn more about the proportional directional spool valve PSL-CAN EX.