Temperature regulators are designed to control the temperature of a process by controlling thermal fluid pressure or flow in compressors, tank jackets, heating coils, or other heating elements. Temperature regulators are used in processes where temperature needs to be kept stable despite temperature changes in the surrounding environment.
Types of Temperature Regulators
Temperature regulators can be self-actuated or externally actuated. Self-actuating temperature regulators are self-contained without the need for an external power source. They use thermally sensitive material that expands and contracts with temperature changes. The expansion and contraction result in the movement of the actuator to adjust the valve position and change the flow path of the thermal fluid to the heating element. This design results in excellent temperature control where the setpoint does not need frequent changes and is a more affordable way to effectively control temperature.
Externally actuated temperature control valves are part of a more complex control system with an external temperature sensor and a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller. Typically, the PID controller is given a set point and gets feedback from the temperature sensor at the controlled point. The PID controller compares the set point temperature to the current temperature from the sensor. An electronic signal is sent from the controller to the temperature regulator to adjust the valve position to keep the process at the temperature setpoint.
Applications
Temperature regulators are used in the piping industry where maintaining a specific temperature is crucial for operational efficiency, product quality, or safety. For example:
- Heat Exchangers: Temperature regulators can control the flow of heating or cooling fluids in heat exchangers to maintain the desired temperature of the process fluid.
- Steam Systems: In steam systems, temperature regulators control the flow of steam to maintain the desired temperature in various processes such as sterilization, drying, or heating.
- Process Control: Industries such as chemical processing rely on temperature regulators to control the temperature of reactions and maintain the desired conditions for optimal product yield and quality.
- Hot Water Systems: Temperature regulators are used in hot water systems to control the temperature of water circulating through pipes for heating purposes, ensuring consistent and comfortable building temperatures.