Pressure regulator how does it work

In general, there are three types: General purpose, pilot operated and application specific, for example, used in precision instrumentation, reverse flow, brewery and other applications.

In all cases, pressure should be adjusted from a lower pressure gradually up to the set pressure. Browse our range of pressure regulators to find out more. How do Pressure Regulators work. How do Pressure Regulators work?

Why have a pressure regulator? How does a pressure regulator work? What types of pressure regulators are there? General purpose regulators are usually rated for 20 bar inlet pressure, with an outlet pressure up to 16 bar, dependent on the materials used in construction.

A recommended range, over which the performance is repeatable, is always given. Pilot operated regulators use air pressure in place of the compression spring discussed earlier.

This allows control from a remote position, a force greater than that possible through a hand operated mechanical spring and better flow characteristics. When the spring force moves the seal away from the valve seat, fluid is allowed to flow from the inlet of the regulator to the outlet. As the outlet pressure rises, the force generated by the sensing element resists the force of the spring and the valve is closed.

These two forces reach a balance point at the set point of the pressure regulator. When the downstream pressure drops below the set-point, the spring pushes the poppet away from the valve seat and additional fluid is allowed to flow from the inlet to the outlet until the force balance is restored. Piston style designs are often used when higher outlet pressures are required, when ruggedness is a concern or when the outlet pressure does not have to be held to a tight tolerance.

Piston designs tend to be sluggish, as compared to diaphragm designs, because of the friction between the piston seal and the regulator body. In low pressure applications, or when high accuracy is required, the diaphragm style is preferred.

Diaphragm regulators employ a thin disc shaped element which is used to sense pressure changes. They are usually made of an elastomer, however, thin convoluted metal is used in special applications. Diaphragms essentially eliminate the friction inherent with piston style designs.

Additionally, for a particular regulator size, it is often possible to provide a greater sensing area with a diaphragm design than would be feasible if a piston style design was employed. The reference force element is usually a mechanical spring. This spring exerts a force on the sensing element and acts to open the valve. Most regulators are designed with an adjustment which allows the user to adjust the outlet pressure set-point by changing the force exerted by the reference spring.

The accuracy of a pressure regulator is determined by charting outlet pressure versus flow rate. The resulting graph shows the drop in outlet pressure as the flow rate increases.

This phenomenon is known as droop. Pressure regulator accuracy is defined as how much droop the device exhibits over a range of flows; less droop equals greater accuracy. When selecting a regulator, engineers should examine pressure versus flow curves to ensure the regulator can meet the performance requirements necessary for the proposed application. Droop can also be caused by significant changes in the inlet pressure from the value when the regulator output was set.

As the inlet pressure rises from the initial setting, the outlet pressure falls. Conversely, as the inlet pressure falls, the outlet pressure rises. Increasing the valve orifice can increase the flow capacity of the regulator. This may be beneficial if your design can accommodate a bigger regulator however be careful not to over specify. A regulator with an oversized valve, for the conditions of the intended application, will result in a greater sensitivity to fluctuating inlet pressures, and may cause excessive droop.

Hysteresis can occur in mechanical systems, such as pressure regulators, due to friction forces caused by springs and seals. Take a look at the graph and you will notice, for a given flow rate, that the outlet pressure will be higher with decreasing flow than it will be with increasing flow.

Single-stage regulators are an excellent choice for relatively small reductions in pressure. For example, the air compressors used in most factories generate maximum pressures in the to psi range. This pressure is piped through the factory but is often reduced with a single-stage regulator to lower pressures 10 psi, 50 psi, 80 psi etc.

A two-stage pressure regulator is ideal for applications with large variations in the flow rate, significant fluctuations in the inlet pressure, or decreasing inlet pressure such as occurs with gas supplied from a small storage tank or gas cylinder. With most single-stage regulator regulators, except those that use a pressure compensated design, a large drop in inlet pressure will cause a slight increase in outlet pressure.

This happens because the forces acting on the valve change, due to the large drop in pressure, from when the outlet pressure was initially set. In a two-stage design the second stage will not be subjected to these large changes in inlet pressure, only the slight change from the outlet of the first stage. This arrangement results in a stable outlet pressure from the second stage despite the significant changes in pressure supplied to the first stage.

A three-stage regulator provides a stable outlet pressure similar to a two-stage regulator but with the added ability to handle a significantly higher maximum inlet pressure. For example, the Beswick PRD3HP series three-stage regulator is rated to handle an inlet pressure as high as 3, psi and it will provide a stable outlet pressure in the 0 to 30 psi range despite changes to the supply pressure.

A small and lightweight pressure regulator that can maintain a stable low output pressure despite an inlet pressure that will decrease over time from a high pressure is a critical component in many designs. Examples include portable analytical instruments, hydrogen fuel cells, UAVs, and medical devices powered by high pressure gas supplied from a gas cartridge or storage cylinder. Now that you have chosen the regulator that best suits your application it is important that the regulator is installed and adjusted properly to insure that it functions as intended.

Most manufacturers recommend the installation of a filter upstream of the regulator some regulators have a built-in filter to prevent dirt and particulates from contaminating the valve seat. Operation of a regulator without a filter could result in a leaking to the outlet port if the valve seat is contaminated with dirt or foreign material.

Regulated gases should be free from oils, greases, and other contaminants which could foul or damage the valve components or attack the regulator seals. Many users are unaware that gases supplied in cylinders and small gas cartridges can contain traces of oils from the manufacturing process. The presence of oil in the gas is often not apparent to the user and therefore this topic should be discussed with your gas supplier before you select the seal materials for your regulator.

This keeps their application pattern uniform and produces the correct droplet size. Basically, sprinklers can only pass along what they receive. Most sprinklers perform best at a specific pressure range, often lower than your in-line pressure. Pressure regulators assure operating pressures do not exceed a manufacturer's recommended operating pressure range.

They also help prevent fittings and emitters from blowing out of the tubing because of pressure surges. But note that in-line pressure should be at least 5 psi 0. Learn the fundamentals of pressure regulation with Senninger's free on-demand Pressure Regulation course on Hunter University. Learn how to install pressure regulators in different irrigation systems, select a model, identify wear issues, causes of pressure fluctuations and more. Senninger is pleased to announce the release of the LDN Dynamic Drive, which brings an expansive pressure range of 10 to 50 psi 0.

Senninger Irrigation is pleased to announce the appointment of Owen Kruger to the position of Director of Domestic Sales. Owen comes to Senninger from