High Gas Pressure Reducing Valves Applications
High gas pressure reducing valves are used when keeping gas in a cylinder or other system in order to keep the pressure from exceeding limits that are considered to be safe.
When storing highly compressed gases, such as hydrogen for fuel cells for example, it is typically accomplished by using a highly pressurized cylinder. When gases must be taken out of this system, high gas pressure reducing valves are necessary to reduce the cylinder to its optimum pressure. This article will cover the basics of how these machines, as well as water reducing pressure valves, work and why they are so important.
When gasses are stored in cylinders, it must be extremely pressurized, typically at 70 MPa. This makes it very difficult to keep it at an accurate level with a one step operation; for this reason high gas pressure reducing valves will utilize a two step mechanism for reducing and maintaining pressure, sometimes built right into the cylinder of the valve. In order to function they must contain the following:
• A Restricting Element – is a valve arrangement that comes in several different varieties such as a poppet, butterfly, or globe. Its purpose is to operate as a variable restriction to the flow.
• A Loading Element – applies the force necessary to the Restricting Element. This can be accomplished by using a weight, piston, or spring. Often times a spring is used together with a diaphragm.
• A Measuring Element – is used to determine when the outlet flow is equal to that of the inlet flow. A diaphragm is often used for this purpose since it can also double as a loading element.
Today there are many different applications and industries where high gas pressure reducing valves can be used. Some of the more common examples include:
• Oxy-fuel cutting and welding
• Propane Gas
• Breathable Air Supply
• Mining Industry
• Recreational Vehicles
Water pressure reducing valves are also important, namely in order to supply water for fire fighters, high rise buildings, water towers, and supply tanks. In fact, even most domestic residences are required by certain plumbing codes to uses these pieces of equipment when the municipal water main has pressure that exceeds 80 psi. It is often a good idea to have these installed for water conservation purposes as well, since much more water is wasted is high pressure systems. Using less water will also be easier on the environment since a whole community’s water use can be excessive which raises the cost of everyone’s sewer bill.
Water pressure reducing valves can also reduce the cost of heating because water that flows through these systems takes less energy to heat. In fact, having one of these valves installed may reduce your costs by up to 30 percent. While there are many different options available, perhaps the most popular brand is the Watt pressure reducing valve. They may be installed in commercial properties as well as residential homes.
