GAS PRESSURE REGULATION

Gas pressure regulators are essential components that reduce the available gas pressure to the precise pressure required by the heater and its controller.

The gas supplied to regulators often comes with fluctuating pressures, and regulators ensure consistent performance by adjusting the pressure to meet the heater's needs. Since heating demands vary over time, the regulator plays a crucial role in enabling adjustable heat output, ensuring efficient and reliable operation.

Things to keep in mind when selecting the proper gas pressure regulator are:

• Which Gas Type is available?
• At Which Gas Pressure?
• Which Heater Type does the client want to use?
• How do we want to control the heating capacity?
  - Manually
  - Automatically
  • On/Off
  • Continuous  Regulating              
  • High-Low
• What Capacity of Gas Pressure Regulators is needed?

Gas Type

Torvic Agro supplies Gasolec and Heatstar gas heaters for Propane/LPG or Natural Gas High or Natural Gas Low. Technically all our gas pressure regulators can handle all above gas types, however the gas type used gives information on the gas pressure that is entering the regulation system. Assuming local regulations allow it, we see with:

Inlet Gas Pressure

The capacity of a gas pressure regulator depends on three key factors:

1. Inlet Gas Pressure
2. Desired Outlet Gas Pressure
3. Type of Gas Flowing Through the Unit

A general rule of thumb is that if the gas pressure is reduced by a factor of 4, the capacity in kilograms passing through the same regulator decreases by a factor of 2 (50%).

Example: for an Gasolec S8 heater operating on 350-1400mBar propane:

• When the inlet pressure drops from 1400mBar to 350mBar (4x reduction), the heat output decreases from 100% to 50% (2x reduction).

This relationship highlights the importance of maintaining appropriate gas pressure for consistent performance and efficient heating.

Heat Output Adjustment

By increasing or decreasing the output gas pressure we can raise or lower the heat output of many Gasolec heaters. Based on the gas pressure regulation system the Gasolec heaters can be divided into two groups:

Heaters with a central Gas Pressure Regulator operating at various gas pressures

• Gasolec Heaters Type S
• Gasolec Heaters Type M

Heaters with a Fixed Operating Gas pressure & individual ignition system

• G12Asco: Pilot Flame Ignition - central control
• G12Maxi: Pilot Flame Ignition – individual thermostat
• G12E: Electric Ignition – central control

Gas Pressure Regulation Systems

Manual Regulation

The output of most Gasolec S-type and M-type Heaters can be regulated by a manual gas pressure regulator.

• Simple
• Cheap
• Works without electricity
• One needs to check the setting often
• Because of that the heat output is often too high or too low

Automatic Regulation

Automatic regulation involves a central climate controller that monitors the temperature and determines when additional heating is required. It sends either an ON/OFF signal or a 0-10Vdc control signal to activate the heating system. This ensures precise temperature management. We recommend using a central controller that integrates all climate functions, including heating, ventilation, air inlet control, and cooling, for optimal efficiency and balance.

Automatic Regulation - High-Low

In this mode, the High-Low Unit adjusts gas pressure based on demand:

• High Heat Output: When heat is needed, the system increases to high gas pressure for maximum output.
• Low Heat Output: When power is cut, the system reverts to low gas pressure, maintaining minimal heat output.

Manual adjustment of the minimum and maximum settings is possible to adapt the system during power interruptions or specific operational needs. A wider difference between the Maximum and Minimum gas pressure allows significant gas savings during periods of low heating demand, reducing costs while maintaining comfort.

Automatic regulation enhances energy efficiency, system reliability, and climate control in poultry houses and other agricultural applications.

• Still relatively simple
• Gas savings through better use
• Can be connected to climate controller
• Manual Control also possible
• Abrupt gas pressure changes can lead to uncalled gas flow interceptions by the sometimes locally required gas-hose-leakage-detectors

Automatic Regulation - Continuous (Step Less)

In this system, a 0-10Vdc control signal from the climate controller and a 24V power supply are sent to the GPC 300 Series Gas Pressure Control Unit, which adjusts gas pressure gradually. This ensures smooth, stepless heating output changes without triggering gas-hose-leakage detectors, avoiding unnecessary interruptions. By modulating gas pressure continuously, the system optimizes energy use, reducing waste while maintaining precise temperature control for poultry or agricultural environments.

• Can be connected to climate controller
• Unit equipped with manual control option as emergency solution for power interruptions
• Changes in room temperature go very slowly
• No problems with uncalled for interruptions in the gas supply by gas-hose-leakage-detectors
• More expensive than a High-Low unit
• Higher gas consumption

Automatic Regulation with fixed gas pressure – ON/OFF

All G12 heaters are designed to operate at 28mBar gas pressure, typically set at 30mBar to allow for a 2mBar drop over the gas hose.

The G12 Asco model is controlled by an ON/OFF signal from a climate controller. Unlike High/Low systems, it operates only at Maximum or Off, with no adjustable settings. The G12 Maxi, on the other hand, uses a Capillary Thermostat for manual temperature control and automatic heat output adjustment. This model is ideal for areas with unstable electricity and poultry houses with significant temperature differences within the same building.

For optimal performance, Gasolec recommends using a 400+mBar main gas line with individual 30mBar regulators (PR30) for each heater. This setup absorbs pressure fluctuations when multiple heaters are switched ON or OFF and allows the use of smaller, more affordable gas lines, reducing weight and installation costs.

Determining the Size of the Gas Pressure Regulator

To produce 1kW/h one needs 72gram of propane/LPG. This leads to:

S8, capacity 3.5kW -> 252gr/h at full capacity
M8, Capacity 5kW -> 360 gr/h at full capacity

For example – using the Gasolec Heaters and the Gasolec Gas Pressure Regulating units:

• A Broiler House equipped with 15x S8 means a maximum Gas Consumption of 3.78 Kg/h => it needs a gas pressure regulator with at least a 4kg/h capacity.
   
• A Broiler House equipped with 30x M8 operating in one group means a maximum Gas Consumption of 10.8 Kg/h => it needs a gas pressure regulator with at least a 12kg/h capacity.

With Natural Gas the situation is quite different as usually the inlet gas pressure is much lower => the capacity of the gas pressure regulators is much less. Please check your options with your supplier or with Torvic Agro.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• If you're unsure which system to choose, please contact your local dealer or Torvic Agro for guidance. Each gas pressure regulating system has unique advantages, and the best choice depends on customer needs and local regulations. Gasolec can assist you in selecting the optimal solution for your situation.
   
• It is essential to use each heater with the specific gas type and gas pressure it was designed for. Changing the gas type or pressure without adapting the heater's specifications may result in serious safety and operational issues. Always consult experts before making modifications.