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Re: An issue for you to ponder
At 03:48 AM 2/13/02 -0500, Douglas Guynn <dguynn at nwol_net> noted that
Matheson said:
>On occasion, an outlet valve is affixed to the outlet port of the
>regulator. This valve is to be used to shut the regulator on or off for
>brief periods of time. It should never be used to throttle or control the
>flow of gas emitted from a regulator.
I wrote to Matheson and asked why they said this. It brought up again the
necessity of proper SYSTEM design.
Paul Sutrynowicz said:
" Using the regulator outlet valve to control flow rate - In the event that
the regulator fails and allows full cylinder
pressure to pass, the outlet valve may not allow a large enough flow rate
to prevent the pressure from backing
up and blowing out the regulator delivery gage.
Even if it did allow sufficient flow, the gage or some other component in
the system would still blow out, unless
a relief valve were installed downstream of the regulator."
This underscores the importance of insuring that your system is
designed properly. That is why I am concerned about folks buying a
regulator on eBay, modifying it, and then hoping everything is OK. Maybe
it will be, maybe it won't. If you lose an eye when something goes wrong,
was it worth it? Better to buy a SYSTEM that has be thought through and
tested. Ask who warrants the system you are thinking about using.
My system is designed to fall apart and dump all pressure if a failure
occurs in the regulator delivering high pressure downstream. There is no
effort to contain the pressure, let it go. That way nothing will shoot off
or rupture sending shrapnel everywhere. That is the reason for using soft
silicone hose.
Please enjoy your tank(s) safely.
--
Dave Gomberg, San Francisco gomberg at wcf dot com
http://www.wcf.com/co2iron for low cost CO2 systems that work!
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