Pressure Regulators - Can they increase flow ?

by Mick
(Sydney, Australia )

Hi Bill,

Pressure Regulators - Can they be used to reduce or increase flow, depending on inlet-outlet pressure?

e.g. I have a system that requires 115 L/s(243cfm) @ 100Kpa (14.5 psi). Input pressure is to be say 1000kpa(145psi). What would be the required input flow on the high pressure side? Is it a simple as: -

p1/v1=p2/v2

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Bill says...

Mike, thanks for writing in. I'm a hands on guy, not a mathematician, so I don't know from formulas.

I can tell you that in the process of regulating the upstream air pressure to a lower PSI setting for the downstream air, the regulator does act as a flow restrictor. The downstream pressure from the regulator has to be at or below the regulator, since the regulator cannot "dial up" the pressure past the upstream supply.

In reducing the downstream air pressure to the set point, the regulator alternatively restricts and opens the flow as the downstream air is used, and in this fashion maintains a steady downstream pressure level, within the parameters of the equipment and the pressure requirement.

Hope this provides some help.

Cheers,

Bill