Pressure Regulator Installation & Maintenance

Pressure Regulators Installation & Maintenance

Warnings

• Beware of all dangers associated with equipment under pressure and any potential hazards.
• Use suitable personal protective and safety equipment.
• Conduct all maintenance without pressure in the system.

Product Description

Filter-regulators are designed to reduce a higher upstream pressure to a lower downstream pressure, which is adjustable by the user within the setting range of the model. This downstream pressure can be set to the desired value by rotating the knob on the top of the filter regulator and looking at the pressure gauge to see the set pressure.

After the pressure is set by the user, the filter regulator is self-adjusting and maintains a constant downstream pressure. However, variable flow rates or large variations to the inlet pressure may affect the actual downstream pressure.

Installation and commissioning

Air Pressure Regulators are a reliable and relatively simple piece of instrumentation as long as they are installed and commissioned correctly. The below points should be observed when installing.

• Make sure all areas and surfaces are as clean as possible
• Ensure the line is vented of pressure if installing on a live system
• Ensure that the upstream airline is as clean as possible and no foreign debris is present
• Check the direction of flow marked on the regulator to establish the correct inlet and outlet. The unit will not work if the direction of flow is reversed.
• Ensure the pressure gauge is installed on the regulator
• Thread tape or thread paste will need to be used to ensure a bubble tight seal
• If using the mounting bracket ensure it has a sufficient installation surface to attach too
• Once the installation has occurred and the fittings are tightened gradually bring pressure back to the line
• The adjustment knob on top of the regulator can now be adjusted to set the desired pressure
• Check for any leaks at the inlet, outlet and pressure gauge

Maintenance

Pneumatic Regulators should be inspected for proper function as part of routine maintenance. Here they can be visually checked for any leakage or corrosion. If necessary the line may need to be isolated and vented of pressure (both upstream and downstream) so the regulator can be removed and cleaned. Try to ensure no debris is caught in the regulator as this can cause premature failure of the unit. The maintenance intervals will depend upon the quality of the air used by the system. A visual inspection every 6 months would be a good start and may need to be shortened or lengthened depending on the findings.

Troubleshooting

The following troubleshooting table helps the identification of the probable cause of malfunctions and how to solve them.