How to Flatten a Regulator Flow Curve to Reduce Droop
Consistent pressure control is essential to the safe operation of industrial fluid systems. Maintaining a reliable downstream pressure with a regulator can help minimize flow rate changes, especially in a high-flow system. However, in order to sustain pressure control and minimize droop, external components may be necessary additions to your fluid system.
What is Droop?
Figure 1: This chart illustrates different flow curves using different pressure regulation configurations: a simple spring-loaded regulator (Option A- baseline); a dome-loaded regulator and a pilot regulator (Option B – “Good”); a dome-loaded regulator and a pilot regulator with an added feedback line to the dome-loaded regulator (Option C – “Better”); and a dome-loaded regulator and a pilot regulator with an added feedback line to the pilot regulator (Option D – “Best”).
Droop is defined as a decrease in outlet pressure as downstream flow increases. The chart shown above (Figure 1) is an example of a flow curve. A flow curve is a helpful tool used to establish the range of outlet pressures a regulator will maintain based on various system flow rates. Flow curves are created through product testing and represent real performance of a regulator for a given set of system parameters.
The vertical axis displays outlet pressure with the horizontal axis showing downstream flow rate. The flattest, or most horizontal, part of the curve indicates where a regulator will preserve consistent pressure—even with substantial changes in flow. The far right of the curve indicates where the regulator will be fully open and not able to preserve a consistent pressure. Within this area—between where the pressure begins to decline rapidly to where it approaches zero—the poppet is reaching the limit of its stroke resulting in a loss of control. At this point, the regulator is acting less like a pressure control device and more like a restricting orifice.
While every pressure-reducing regulator will exhibit some droop, you can take steps to minimize this phenomenon. Flatter flow curves can be achieved by choosing the right regulator configuration for your system. Four different options to reduce droop are explained below.
Option A: A Simple Spring-Loaded Regulator
The most common type of pressure-reducing regulator is a spring-loaded regulator. In this design, a spring applies force on a sensing element—either a diaphragm or a piston—which moves the poppet either closer to or further away from the orifice, controlling the downstream pressure. We will use the spring-loaded regulator as our baseline.
A spring-loaded pressure-reducing regulator offers acceptable performance for general applications when it comes to reducing droop. In this configuration, as system flow demand increases, the regulator poppet moves away from the seat to allow additional flow which, in turn, allows the loading spring to relax, lowering the loading force and regulator set point. As flow demands change, the amount of droop is dependent on the loading spring rate and, in some cases, may require frequent manual adjustments back to the desired set pressure if a high degree for accuracy is required.
A more effective option to improve droop and flatten flow curves is a dome loaded pressure-reducing regulator. The loading force within this type of regulator is not controlled by a spring, but by pressurized gas housed in a dome chamber. The gas flexes a diaphragm, which moves the poppet away from the orifice and controls the downstream pressure. The remaining options below will explore how dome loaded regulators, when coupled with various components and design modifications, can deliver enhanced performance by minimizing droop.
Option B: Dome Loaded Regulator with a Pilot Regulator
Option B couples a dome loaded pressure-reducing regulator with a pilot regulator. In this configuration, the dome loaded regulator responds to pressure changes by maintaining a constant pressure in the dome chamber. The pilot regulator is used to control the supply of gas to the dome chamber of the dome loaded regulator. As shown above in Figure 2, any excess dome pressure is relieved through an outlet loop.
As the system flow demand increases, the poppet will move away from the seat to allow the additional flow. However, unlike a spring-loaded regulator, there is no loading spring which can relax. Instead, the diaphragm flexes downward, expanding the dome chamber, slightly lowering the dome pressure. The pilot regulator senses the drop in dome pressure and responds by opening to allow additional gas into the dome and maintaining the intended set pressure. If downstream system flow demand decreases, the poppet will rise closer to the seat, pushing the diaphragm upwards into the dome and slightly increasing the pressure in the dome. This excess pressure is allowed to vent to the downstream side of the regulator through the dynamic control outlet loop.
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Figure 2: The Option B configuration features a dome loaded regulator with a pilot regulator and a dynamic control outlet loop to control dome pressure.
If we refer back to Figure 1, this configuration is represented as the flow curve titled “Option B.” Compared to Option A, the baseline spring-loaded regulator curve, the dome loaded regulator and pilot regulator configuration offers more dynamic pressure control. While there is still some droop, the flow curve is flatter— which represents a regulator that can more accurately hold a set pressure over a wide range of flows. Standard dome loaded regulators can be used on many systems without worry of significant outlet pressure drops. However, droop can be further reduced using other configurations explained below.
Option C: External Feedback Line Connected to a Dome Loaded Regulator
Figure 3: The Option C configuration features an external feedback line connected to the dome loaded regulator to better compensate for downstream pressure drops.
Additional accuracy can be achieved by adding external feedback to a dome loaded regulator. External feedback is sent to the regulator by connecting a tube from the downstream process line back to the sensing area of the dome loaded regulator.
The external feedback line directs pressure from a point in the system downstream of the regulator to the regulators sensing area. This allows the regulator to react to changes in the pressure at that point in the system rather than only changes in pressure within the regulator as is the case for standard dome loaded regulator designs.
If we refer back to Figure 1, Option C is represented as the third flow curve. The operating flow rate expands before hitting the critical choke point. While this flow curve is flatter than the previous two options, it still exhibits some droop.
Option D: External Feedback Line Connected to a Pilot Regulator
Figure 4: The Option D configuration features an external feedback line connected to the pilot regulator, delivering downstream pressure feedback.
Our final option presents the best configuration for flattening flow curve. As shown above in Figure 4, the external feedback line is directly connected to the pilot regulator instead of the dome loaded regulator. This enables the pilot regulator to make highly accurate adjustments to pressure in the dome loaded regulator’s chamber based on actual downstream pressure, allowing the dome loaded regulator to compensate by changing its outlet pressure.
As system flow demands increase, the lower pressure is directed back to the pilot regulator through the added feedback line. The pilot reacts to this change in pressure by increasing pressure in the dome loaded regulator, resulting in the proper downstream set pressure. In this configuration, the feedback loop enables continuous, automatic adjustments to stabilize the system for optimized performance. This is demonstrated in Figure 1 as the final flow curve with a faint droop and a broad flow range.
All regulators will exhibit some droop. Depending on your system, droop may be acceptable. But when it is critical to keep the pressure constant as flow changes, the right regulator configuration can help. For more information on how to select the right pressure-reducing regulator configuration for your fluid systems, contact your local Swagelok sales and service center for an expert evaluation.