VICI Valco Micro Diaphragm Valve Series
| Brand | VICI |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | VICI Micro Diaphragm Valve Series |
| Pricing | Available Upon Request |
Overview
The VICI Valco Micro Diaphragm Valve Series is a precision-engineered, pneumatically actuated switching valve designed for high-reliability fluidic control in analytical instrumentation—particularly gas chromatography (GC), GC-MS, automated sample introduction systems, and continuous environmental monitoring platforms. Operating on a dual-piston, linear-actuation principle, the valve employs a single, chemically resistant polyimide diaphragm to isolate the actuation mechanism from the process stream, eliminating dynamic seals and minimizing carryover. Its core architecture features a concentric plunger array housed within a monolithic stainless-steel body, actuated by two opposing pneumatic pistons that translate with sub-millisecond repeatability. This design delivers deterministic flow path selection without internal sliding seals, ensuring long-term stability under cyclic operation and compatibility with aggressive solvents, corrosive gases, and ultra-high-purity carrier streams.
Key Features
- Ultra-compact footprint: 35 mm (1.375″) diameter with total mass of only 240 g (valve + fittings, excluding purge ring)
- Exceptional service life: ≥1,000,000 cycles at ambient temperature (23°C); 500,000 cycles at 175°C
- Sub-10 ms actuation time enabling precise timing in fast GC modulation and multi-dimensional separation workflows
- Minimal internal dead volume: Optimized flow geometry with zero-dead-volume Valco® 1/16″ or 1/32″ ZDV fittings (standard tubing ID: 0.40 mm; optional: 0.25 mm or 0.75 mm)
- Integrated pneumatic actuator: Requires only 50–60 psi clean, dry instrument air supplied via 10-32 female NPT port
- Tool-free assembly: Single retaining screw ensures repeatable alignment and simplifies field maintenance or component replacement
- High thermal and pressure tolerance: Rated for continuous operation up to 200°C and 300 psi; compatible with both positive-pressure and vacuum-driven sampling (e.g., pump-out configurations)
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The valve’s wetted materials are selected for broad chemical inertness and regulatory suitability in regulated laboratories. The diaphragm is fabricated from proprietary polyimide film—exhibiting low outgassing, high tensile strength, and resistance to hydrolysis and halogenated compounds. The nut is standard Nitronic® 60 stainless steel (optional Hastelloy® C-276 or 316 SS), while all other metallic components utilize 300-series austenitic stainless steel. These material selections comply with ASTM F86 (surface preparation of stainless steel) and meet USP Class VI biocompatibility requirements for extractables profiling. The valve supports GLP/GMP workflows through consistent mechanical performance and traceable installation—no calibration or periodic recalibration is required. When integrated into FDA-regulated GC systems, its deterministic switching behavior contributes to data integrity under 21 CFR Part 11-compliant software environments.
Software & Data Management
As a hardware-level fluidic switch, the VICI Micro Diaphragm Valve does not incorporate embedded firmware or digital interfaces. It operates as a deterministic electro-pneumatic endpoint, controlled externally via TTL-triggered 3-way solenoid valves or programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Its binary state (open/closed) is fully synchronized with instrument timing engines in GC data systems (e.g., Agilent OpenLab, Thermo Chromeleon, Shimadzu LabSolutions). For audit trail compliance, valve actuation timestamps are logged alongside chromatographic events when connected to systems supporting I/O event tagging. Optional purge rings—equipped with dual 1/16″ ports for inert gas sweep—can be configured to reduce ambient air diffusion into sensitive detection zones (e.g., Pulsed Discharge Detectors), improving signal-to-noise ratios without altering baseline stability.
Applications
- Gas chromatography: Injection valve, column switching, heart-cutting, and backflushing modules
- Environmental monitoring: Automated sampling manifolds for VOCs, greenhouse gases, and airborne particulate precursors
- Pharmaceutical QC: Solvent selection and reagent routing in automated dissolution or residual solvent analysis systems
- Process analytical technology (PAT): In-line flow path reconfiguration for real-time reaction monitoring
- Research-grade instrumentation: Custom fluidic routing in microfluidic GC detectors, portable mass spectrometers, and hyphenated techniques requiring low-dead-volume valving
FAQ
What is the maximum operating temperature for this valve with and without the purge ring?
Standard configuration: 200°C continuously. With purge ring installed: 175°C maximum.
Can the valve be used under vacuum conditions?
Yes—it is rated for use with sample pressures below atmospheric pressure, including configurations where the sample stream is actively drawn through the valve by an external vacuum pump.
Are replacement diaphragms and Valco fittings available as spare parts?
Yes—VICI supplies certified replacement diaphragm kits and ZDV fitting sets with documented lot traceability for GxP environments.
Does the valve require electrical power or only pneumatic supply?
It requires only clean, dry instrument air (50–60 psi); no electrical connection is needed at the valve body.
How is positional repeatability ensured during installation?
A single M4 retaining screw secures the actuator housing to the valve body, maintaining fixed angular orientation and eliminating drift across thermal cycles or mechanical vibration.
