There are three main considerations in specifying your regulator. If you’re unsure as to which regulator you or your client need, please consider the following:
- Capacity
- Inlet Pressure
- Outlet Pressure
Capacity: Usually expressed as kg/h or kW/h for LPG. This is the maximum load the regulator can handle and must be sized to cover the load your appliances will place on the system. The load can be calculated as the sum of the stated draw on your appliances’ data sheets or labels. Please note that supply must also be sized appropriately; a regulator can only supply its maximum capacity if the gas storage can supply enough offtake.
47kg Propane Cylinder: Max 2.37kg/h (32.94 kW/h) per cylinder.
1,200L Propane Bulk Tank (Above Ground): Max 9.25 kg/h (128 kW/h)
2,000L Propane Bulk Tank (Above Ground: Max 13.52 kg/h (187 kW/h)
3,400L Propane Bulk Tank (Above Ground: Max 16.99 kg/h (235kW/h)
For underground tanks, the offtake will be approximately half of an equivalently sized above ground tank.
Inlet Pressure: This must be appropriate for the pressure the regulator will be fed on the inlet, and can be used to determine the stage of regulation:
1st Stage (direct from supply): typically 1 – 16 bar
2nd Stage (fed by 1st stage regulator): typically 0.5 – 4 bar
3rd Stage (fed by 2nd stage regulator): typically 60 – 90 mbar
Outlet Pressure: This must be appropriate for the pressure the appliance or the next regulator in the system’s inlet pressure requirements, and can be used to determine the stage of regulation:
37 mbar: (2nd or 3rd stage regulator): Typical appliance pressure. Used at wall end or where pipework from supply to appliances is relatively short.
75 mbar (2nd stage regulator): Used in systems with longer pipework runs to avoid pressure loss dropping below 37mbar before reaching the wall end. Requires a 3rd stage regulator to reduce pressure to 37mbar appliance pressure at wall end.
100 – 300 mbar (2nd stage regulator): Typically used for specialist commercial applications where appliances require higher pressure e.g. burners.
0.5 – 4 bar (1st stage regulator): The initial stage of regulation from vessel pressure, will then require a second stage of regulation to reduce to transmission or appliance pressure. Some high-pressure applications will use 1st stage pressure e.g. roofing torches.
If you require further assistance specifying your regulator, please contact Clesse UK:
sales@clesse.co.uk
01905 842020
