What are the parts of a bolt-on gas regulator?
What are the parts of a bolt-on gas regulator? |
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Inlet with sealing washer |
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The inlet is the point where the cylinder gas enters the regulator. Inside the connecting thread and surrounding the inlet is a sealing washer. This is usually made of either synthetic or pure rubber, and is designed to minimise the risk of gas leaks. Gas corrodes rubber, but you can buy a replacement washer when it wears out. | |||
Outlet pressure |
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The outlet pressure is printed on the outer casing and is set at a fixed rate. This means that no matter how fast the gas leaves the cylinder, it will always be released from the regulator at a pre-set pressure – in this case, 28mbar. | |||
Capacity |
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Another figure sometimes printed on the top is the capacity, also known as gas flow rate. This tells you how many kilograms of gas can pass through the regulator in one hour.
Bolt-on butane regulators for 4.5kg Calor gas cylinders have a capacity of 1.5kg per hour. |
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Inlet pressure |
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The inlet pressure is the rate of gas flow from the cylinder into the regulator. Some regulators have their maximum inlet pressure printed on the top, for instance 10bar. This is the highest speed that the regulator can cope with.
The inlet pressure is always higher than the outlet pressure, as compressed gas generates a lot of force. The regulator slows down the gas and releases it in a steady stream to the appliance. |
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Regulator outlet nozzle |
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The outlet nozzle, also known as a spigot, connects to the hose that carries the gas from the regulator to the appliance. The ridges help hold the hose clips in place. | |||
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