Providing Today’s Knowledge-Based Solutions to

the Worldwide Natural Gas Industry……….

Vented vs Vent Limited Regulators

Service Regulators Line Regulators Appliance Regulators

Service Regulator Functions

• Reduce inlet pressure to a constant lower outlet pressure

• Control the flow of gas to meet the downstream demand

• Provide safety against downstream over-pressurization in the event of regulator failure

Selection Criteria

FLOW

Maximum capacity required

(SCFH, BTU)

Diversity of Load (One

Appliance vs. Multiple)

INLET PRESSURE

Maximum Inlet Pressure

Rating (MAOP)

High and Low Inlet Pressure ranges for the System

Selection Criteria

OUTLET PRESSURE

• Outlet pressure range

• Gas Combination Valves

• Line Regs

• Ind. Gas Trains

• Overpressure protection

requirement & method

• Accuracy of regulation

over flow range (Fixed

Factor Metering vs. Line

Pressure/LP metering)

Regulator Performance (set point/droop/boost/lockup)

Set Point

Boost

Droop

Normal Lock-up

PR

ES

SU

RE

in I

nches w

.c.

FLOW in SCFH, 0.6 sp gr Gas

Typical Appliance Load Constraint Profile

Set with 2 PSIG Inlet Pressure, 7" w.c Outlet Pressure

7"

6"

0 1400

5"

4"

8"

9"

10"

3"

Low Pressure Trip

Lock-up with fast acting close at high fire rate

High Pressure Trip

700350 1050

Selection Criteria

SPEED OF RESPONSE

Service

Regulator

Line / Appliance

Regulators

Gas Meter

Meter Effects on Regulators

(Constant Internal Relief events and failure of IRV)

Fast ON /OFF Creates Rotary Meter Line Pack

HE Boilers: tighter pressure control requirements

• Keep Distance from Rotary

• Work with customers up front to

increase pipe diameter & reduce

pipe velocity

• Replace Rotary with Lg

Diaphragm or Ultrasonic Meter

• Adjust Regulator response time

(load ring)

• Use External Control Line

Solutions to

Rotary Line Pack

Solutions to Rotary Line Pack and High

Lock-up

• Select Regulators with

optimized vent design

• Avoid Long Vent Lines

• Oversize Orifice to reduce

stroke (may impact safety)

• Use regulator with extra

heavy relief spring (note

this impacts safety)

Line Regulator Construction

Safety Diaphragm with Fixed Disc Limiter

Sometimes the problem, Sometimes the SolutionVents & Vent Limiters

Non Lock-up Regulators: usually metal on metal seat. Outlet pressure =Inlet Pressure at no flow. Example Maxitrol RV Series

Flowing: 2 PSIG In, 7”w.c. out

No Flow: 2 PSIG In, 2 PSIG out

Lock-up “Type”: Soft seat, but may “creep” up and ultimately outlet pressure will rise well above set point but will settle someplace below inlet pressure. Example

Flowing: 2 PSIG In, 7”w.c. out

No Flow: 2 PSIG In, 13” w.c. to 1.9 PSIG out

True-Lock Up: Bubble Tight Lock-up. Lock-up close to set point.

Flowing: 2 PSIG In, 7”w.c. out

No Flow: 2 PSIG In, 8” w.c.-5” w.c out depending on speed of

closure, and class.

Z21.18, section 2.9Class 1: 150% of initial outlet pressure or initial outlet pressure +5 inches w.c., whichever is greater (e.g. 7” + 5” = 12” w.c.)

Class 2: 150% of initial outlet pressure (e.g. 7” + 3.5” w.c. = 10.5” w.c.)

Maxitrol RV

Maxitrol 210

PF Governor

Line Regulator Performance: Lock-up

Class II Vent Limited Line Regulators

• Rated for 2+ to 10 PSIG

inlet

• Outlet pressures up to

PSIG

• Require OPD

Service Regulator + Line pressure Regulator

WHY THE FE?

• In 2009 the NFPA 54 changed

Sec. 5.7.2.3 & states there shall be a

minimum of 3 feet of clearance form

a door, window, or an ignition

source and a meter or gas regulator

relief vent.

This shows inadequate clearances between the gas service and electric meter.

The electric meter is classified as an ignition source and there shall be a minimum

of 3 feet of clearance between an ignition source and a gas regulator relief vent.

Intakes on High efficiency furnaces

FE/FEX

ADDED SAFETY WITH DUAL

DIAPHRAGM

WORKING DIAPHRAGM

SAFETY DIAPHRAGM

INTERGAL VENT LIMITER

Be Accurate!

Inlet Pressure

Balanced Valve

Design

Balanced Valve

Design

Outlet Pressure

Acuracy

1st Stage 2nd Stage

FE

The FE series of two stage self-driven spring loaded

regulators are widely used in both residential and

commercial installations using Natural Gas, LPG

and other non corrosive gases.

They are designed for either direct installation to a

gas meter or used in general pipeline work.

They can be mounted in any position.

A balanced two stage regulator results in accurate

regulation and high operational reliability.

FE/FEX

• Spring Operated

• Low Pressure Outlet

• Normally “Fail Open”

• Sizes: Inlet – ½”, ¾”, 1”

Outlet - ¾”, 1”, 1¼”, 1½”

• Body Materials

– Die Cast Zinc/Aluminum

• Connections: FNPT

• Fully Balanced 2 stage regulation design

• Can be mounted in any position

• Inlet and Outlet Test Connections Available

• Maximum Inlet Pressure: 125 psig

• Outlet Pressure: 6” to 7.1 PSIG

• Accuracy Range: +/- 1 to 5% or less

• Lock-up Pressure: +2 to 3.5% of Set Point

• Maximum Capacity: 215 to 3,531 scfh

OPTIONS:

• Integral Slam-Shut Valve

• Very Accurate for fixed factor billing

• Available with:

OPSO (High gas pressure shut-off)

UPSO (Low gas pressure shut-off )

or both

CAPACITY

MODEL Nominal CAPACITY REQUIRED MIN.

Inlet pressure (Psi)

FE6 211 cf/h Pd + 2.2

FE10 353 cf/h Pd + 3

FE25 882.8 cf/h Pd + 4.3

FES 1,765 cf/h Pd + 7.2

FEXF 1,765 cf/h Pd + 7.5

FEX 2,648 cf/h Pd + 7.5

FEXS 3,531 cf/h Pd + 7.5

Be Flexible!

Maximum Inlet Pressure 125 Psi

Wide Outlet Pressure Range

Wide Flow Capacity Range

FE 10

FE 25

FES

FEX

FEXS

353 scf/h 883 scf/h 1765 scf/h 2648 scf/h 3531 scf/h

FE 6

210 scf/h

…To Innovation…

-Two stage

- Balanced

- Multi-Position

- High Accuracy

-Compact

-Excess Flow valve

-Thermic Safety Valve

-Filter

- Partial Relief Models

- Anti-tampering Holes

-Mounting Holes

-Inlet & Outlet Test

Ports

- Low Temperature

-Underground Install

Be Flexible!

Be Flexible!

…To Innovation…

Be Safe!

- Excess flow valve

- Thermic Valve

The

temperature

rises and the

insert

melts, blocking

the gas flow.

…To Innovation…

Be Flexible!

Underground / Underwater

Version

FE IS ANSI B109.4 APPROVED

CSA VENT LETTER 10/17/2014

CSA VENT LETTER

1. An FE25 was modified with an approximately 1.5 inch cut in the

diaphragm. The body and diaphragm construction are identical to the

FE06 and FE10. The cut was aligned with the limiting hole in the safety

diaphragm to represent the worst possible case.

2. A Pressure of 4 PSIG was applied to the outlet of the regulator, to

bypass the first stage and the pressure cut off device.

3. On application of the test pressure the flow through the safety

diaphragm hole was initially measured at the equivalent of .66 cu.ft. / hr.

of natural gas, this flow reduced within one second to .04 cu.Ft. / hr.

CSA VENT LETTER

Conclusion: At an inlet pressure of 4 PSIG the maximum flow

through the safety diaphragm bleed hole was initially the equivalent

of .66 cu.ft. / hr. of natural gas and then reduced to .04 cu.Ft. / hr.

after one second.

Regards,

Richard Clark

Richard Clark Certification Engineer CSA Group

Future Challenges

• Increasingly fast valves

• High pressure limit switches

on INLET!

First Stage Be Accurate!

Inlet Pressure Intermediate

Pressure

1st Stage 2nd Stage

…To Innovation…

Balanced Valve

Design

2 nd Stage Be Accurate!

Intermediate

Pressure

Outlet Pressure

1st Stage 2nd Stage

…To Innovation…

Balanced

Valve Design

Be Accurate!

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

11.0

0.0 50.0 100.0 150.0 200.0

Ou

tlet

pre

ssu

re (

psi)

Flow rate scf/h G.N.

14,5 psi 58 psi

High Accuracy

…To Innovation…

Be Safe!

-Two stage

- Balanced

-Multi Position

-High accuracy

-Compact

-Excess Flow Valve

-Thermic Safety Valve

-Filter

-Anti-tampering

- Mounting Holes

-Inlet & Outlet Test

Ports

- Low Temperature

-Underground Install

- NO Full Relief

SLAM-SHUT:

Over pressure shut-off &

Underpressure shut-off

FE/FEX

Anti Freezing Vent Vertical Position

…click to continue

Completed

Vent Limiter Horizontal Position

Completed

…click to continue

Vent Limiter Vertical Position

…click to continue

Insert Vent Limiter N.1

Insert Curve N.2

Vent Limiter

Insert Curve N.1

Insert Vent Limiter N.2

10°

Completed

…click to continue

Anti Freezing & Anti Flooding Horizontal Position

…click to continue

For All Solution

Curve Alluminium for :

-Support Vent Limiter

-Support Connection

(Anti Freezing & Anti Flooding)

Curve Alluminium + Filter for :

-Anti Freezing Solution

FE Failure Matrix

A. Failure of 1st stage diaphragm

B. Failure of slam shut diaphragm

A

Safety diaphragm takes over and regulator

still operates

B

Increase in outlet pressure & Slam Shut trips

C. Failure of main diaphragm Safety diaphragm takes over

C

D. Failure of safety diaphragm Slam shut will trip

E. Line breaks downstream Low pressure cut off engages shuts off

Ed

FE Start UpA. Turn Gas on

C. Pull out OPSO slam shut reset stem

C

D

D. Push in low pressure reset button (IF USED)

E

E. Adjust outlet pressure

B. Make sure the meter nut is lose or test point is open to purge air from system

F. Close the purge fitting