Introduction
Oxygen regulators are essentially valves that control the flow of oxygen from a tank to the outlet or delivery instrument. The main uses of oxygen tanks are for industrial, medicinal and scuba diving for sports and exploration. The oxygen regulator is the valve that cuts of the flow of high-pressure oxygen and allows only a controlled amount of the gas to reach the outlet instrument. In the case of welding or cutting for industrial use, the oxygen regulator regulates flow of oxygen to the torch so that a steady flame is emitted for cutting. When oxygen is used for breathing in hospitals and in scuba equipment, the regulator regulates the flow of oxygen because breathing high-pressure oxygen is fatal.
The Method
The oxygen regulator regulates the pressure of oxygen gas, which is contained in a compressed oxygen tank. It uses the downstream gas pressure to control the pressure of the gas. A spring is used to balance the force. The spring attached to a valve enables the valve to open or close according to the pressure of the gas. A diaphragm attached to the valve system and the spring controls the pressure of the gas and allows only a certain amount of gas to go through to the instrument.
Function
The oxygen regulator is a gas pressure regulator. It is not a gas flow control regulator. It has three parts--the loading, sensing and control mechanisms. The loading mechanism determines the setting of the pressure to be allowed to pass through the regulator. This is usually done by using a pre-tensioned spring. The sensing mechanism senses the amount of pressure and sets the pressure for delivery to the delivery instrument. This is usually a diaphragm attached to a spring and valve system. The control mechanism is the valve that opens and closes to prevent gas at excessive pressure from going through to the delivery instrument.
Utilities
Oxygen regulators are vital to regulate the amount of oxygen reaching the body when they are put to use in a hospital or when they are used by scuba divers. While oxygen is a life-giving gas, high-pressure oxygen can prove fatal. If a human breathes oxygen in excess of 2000 PSI (pounds per square inch), the consequences are a fatal condition called barotrauma. For industrial use in welding and cutting, oxygen regulators drops pressure from 14000 PSI to 2000 PSI for a welding job. Too much oxygen will not get the exact results required for industrial use. Welders can turn a knob to adjust pressure.
Type
Oxygen regulators are pressure regulators. They come under the type of pressure regulators called special service regulators. They are designed especially for regulating the pressure of oxygen gas from an oxygen tank.
Regulation
The manufacture of oxygen regulators is regulated by the North America Compressed Gas Association. The association makes recommendations on the size of cylinders, valves and outlets for oxygen compression based on its experience and safety considerations.
Tags: oxygen regulator, delivery instrument, flow oxygen, high-pressure oxygen, regulator regulates, allows only, attached valve