A pressure regulator is a valve utilized across a wide range of industries to control the flow of liquid or gas within a larger system. This tool improves the safety and performance of high-pressure supply tanks. It enables an operator to establish a predetermined, stable pressure for even discharge of a tank’s contents. Controlling the pressure within supply tanks also helps prevent leakages, which is particularly vital in industries that use hazardous fluids or gases. This type of pressure control makes it possible for operators to safely work with supply tanks that may otherwise be too pressurized to operate.
HOW DOES A PRESSURE REGULATOR WORK?
The goal of the pressure regulator is to maintain a lower outlet pressure even when the inlet pressure fluctuates. In order to achieve this, pressure regulators must reduce inlet pressure. One method of regulating this pressure is through the use of an internal spring. Once the operator sets the spring pressure, the system will maintain that set point pressure whether the tank’s contents are actively discharging or not. Spring compression controls the position of a piston to open a port within the tank, thus relieving pressure as the system discharges its liquid or gas. As the tank’s contents are discharging, the spring overcomes the gas or liquid pressure and changes position, moving to close off the port. The power of the pump stroke determines the size of the shock wave that ultimately results in that spring movement. The operator can set the output pressure to match the needs of the desired application, choosing how evenly to distribute the spray.
Another method for controlling pressure is to prevent flow back into the tank. Pressure rises when a system is no longer discharging until the operator allows more fluid through or opens the discharge once again by repositioning the butterfly. This method provides for even spray by absorbing the shock waves within the tank’s contents, but it is not as successful when over-pressurization occurs with the system.
WHERE TO USE PRESSURE REGULATORS
Pressure regulators are versatile tools with uses across a range of different industries. In particular, they play a vital role in industrial applications. By controlling the flow of dangerous or volatile materials, pressure regulators improve the safety of these work environments.
In critical applications within the aerospace industry, pressure regulators are able to operate in harsh conditions that expose them to extreme high and low temperatures, corrosive materials, and frequent vibrations. In these settings, pressure regulators are often an important component in systems such as altitude control systems and reaction control systems.
These regulators perform well in many applications by keeping fluid flow stable and preventing sudden pressure surges. This makes them highly valuable in sprayers and sprinklers, which typically perform best at lower pressures. As they are able to control the flow of liquid, pressure regulators are also an excellent tool within the agricultural industry. They improve the efficiency of irrigation systems, reducing the number of water pressure fluctuations. Additionally, pressure regulators have the ability to distribute water evenly to the crops, thus avoiding overwatering.
Beyond their uses in the industrial, aerospace, and agricultural sectors, pressure regulators have applications in the following:
● Dental equipment
● Drinking water supply systems
● Furnaces
● Gas grills
● Mining applications
● Pharmaceutical systems
● Wastewater systems
● Welding tasks
