Gas Patio Heater Regulator

If you're looking to cozy inside the cold winter air with a propane patio heater, you need to be aware of how to use the appliance. Matthew Griffith, prevention section chief of Montreal's fire department, said that consumers should choose items that have safety certifications.

It's also important to ensure that there are no nearby combustible objects and that the patio heater is properly connected.

Pressure Regulator

Gas regulators are a simple mechanical devices that we pass by daily in our cars and homes without giving a second thought. Their invention, which was made 135 years ago changed the way propane and natural gas are used for cooking, heating and welding with oxyfuel. There are many variations in the design of regulators, however their fundamental function is the same. The regulator utilizes an element that senses pressure, usually a fabric-reinforced dialythm, to control a valve's location and limit the flow of gas.

The diaphragm is linked to the stem of the valve using rods that run down through the set spring, through the diaphragm before entering the valve. This mechanism senses the black gas patio heater pressure in the home or pipeline and adjusts the position of the valve plug to meet the demand. As the use of gas in the house decreases and the pressure between the regulator and the house reduces as well. This causes the diaphragm to shrink downwards, and it moves the valve plug closer to the orifice, which limits the flow. As the demand for gas in the house increases, the valve opens further and increases the flow of gas.

The valve plug remains closed until the demand for the house decreases. This opens the valve to increase the flow. This process is known as sizing and it is the fundamental function of the regulator.

When the valve is opened, a pressure is built up in the main chamber of the regulator, which is connected to the hose outlet port by a venturi tube (see image). The pressure is controlled by the adjustment of a handle or screw located on the outside of the regulator. When the screw is turned counterclockwise it moves up and reduces the pressure; when it is turned clockwise, it reduces the pressure.

When you are choosing a regulator for your pressure be aware that the minimum and maximum nominal pressures are set by commercial standards, not the pressure at the supply line. The regulator must also be compatible with the hose you choose to use. Choose a hose which is marked as whistle-free that has various sizes of rings to prevent resonant sounds from building up along the length of the hose.

Thermocouple

Thermocouples operate on the premise that different types of metals in contact at their ends can generate an electric current, even when they are operating at extremely different temperatures. They are used to measure the temperature differences between two points in a system, and convert this data into an electrical signal that can then be read by thermocouple meter or another instrument. Thermocouples offer a number of advantages over more common sensors, such as thermistors for instance, the ability to measure extremely high temperatures and operate in corrosive environments.

A pair of different metals are connected to one end of the sensor to create the measuring (aka hot) junction, while the other is kept at a fixed temperature, referred to as the reference (aka cold) junction. Thermocouples are passive devices which means that they don't require power to operate. The voltage produced is proportional to the temperature difference between the measuring junction and the reference junction. Thermocouple manufacturers as well as metrology standards organizations like NIST offer reference tables for the function E (T) displaystyle scriptstyle e(T) For each type of thermocouple.

There are three main kinds of thermocouple junctions: an exposed, grounded and wire that is welded. The exposed style of junction protrudes from the protective sheath, and offers the fastest response. A thermocouple grounded is recommended for testing in corrosive environments. A thermocouple that is welded is physically separated from the sheath by mgO powder to prevent penetration of gas or moisture which could cause mistakes.

The thermocouple welded wire also has the added benefit of being more resistant to vibration. It is recommended to use it in extreme environments with pressures of up to 3000 psi. If a thermocouple is damaged, it is usually caused due to a lack of the polarity. If the sheath is not correctly polarized, both ends of the thermocouple will have unequal voltages at the junction of measurement, which can cause an inaccurate reading and possibly end up damaging the instrument. A faulty thermocouple can also be caused by a poorly calibrated or installed sensor.

Thermostat

Contrary to electric heaters, which need to be wired directly into the wall gas patio heaters are portable and utilize natural gas or propane cylinders for fuel. Thermostats regulate the flow of energy to these cylinders in order that they don't overflow, but can still provide heat when required. The thermostat achieves this by detecting the temperature of the air that passes over it. The thermostat can also detect whether the room is at a comfortable temperature and turn off the heating.

The most common type of thermostat is a digital one. It makes use of a microcontroller to convert an electrical resistance into the temperature measurement. It is able to accomplish this much more accurately than older, mercury switch thermostats that used a mercury coil with three wires in it that moved in accordance with the temperature. This allowed the thermostat to tilt a mercury switch that was connected to an electrical circuit for a heater or air conditioner, turning it off and on.

Another type of thermostat is one that is mechanical. It is a small cylinder filled with wax that begins to melt at a temperature, maybe 180 degrees F (different thermostats open at different temperatures). A rod that is connected to the valve presses into the wax and opens the valve when it's hot. As the room cools, the wax contracts and the rod is pushed into the cylinder to close the valve.

There are thermostats that can be programmed to change at different times during the day. This allows you to reduce energy consumption by setting your heating to go off and on when you are working or sleeping, instead of having it on constantly. You can also set your thermostat to come on sooner so that you can get home to a comfortable temperature. Thermostats are also usually equipped with an element called the heat anticipator that stops the heater from switching on too soon. This is due to the fact that different areas of the house typically attain the temperature set before the thermostat does.

Pilot Light

Many newer homes, heating systems and furnaces are no longer entirely with pilot lights. However, older homes still use them to ignite gas in the burner chamber. If the pilot light is ever snuffed out, it's vital to know how to relight it safely.

A pilot light creates a small gas patio heater flame that heats the thermocouple. This produces electricity and holds the gas valve open. When the pilot flame stops the thermocouple cools and ceases to produce electricity, thereby closing the valve. Pilot lights are found in most natural and propane-fueled appliances, such as water heaters, fireplaces, barbecues, furnaces, ranges and hot tubs.

The process of lighting a pilot light requires that you first turn off the gas valve at the appliance. You must then take out any doors or panels that may be blocking the access to the pilot light. Find the pilot light tube and carefully follow the instructions on the front of the appliance for opening it. After you've re-lit your pilot light, turn the knob on the gas valve to the "on" position.

The main reason to leave the pilot light on is for safety reasons. If you accidentally shut off the pilot light, gas that is constantly escaping from the tube could build up in your house until an electric spark or static charge ignites the gas patio heater and causes an explosive explosion. To prevent this from happening, pilot tubes have an inbuilt cutoff valve.

Aside from the safety concerns, a constantly burning pilot light also consumes an enormous amount of energy. A pilot light burns between $7 and $18 worth of gasoline each month, according to various studies. This waste of fuel also puts a heavier load on the air cooling system in summer. Another concern with the pilot light is that it can attract spiders, who can spin webs that clog the pilot tubes. A constant flame can emit trace quantities of the compound Mercaptan which is responsible for the smell of rotten eggs that is common in natural gas. If you're ever worried about these issues, think about buying a remote controlled gas fireplace or replacing your old fireplace with a modern efficient and efficient model.