Gas Patio Heater Regulator
It's crucial to know how to use a propane patio heater if you want to stay warm in the cold winter. Matthew Griffith, chief of the prevention section at Montreal's Fire Department, advises that consumers be looking for products that have safety certifications.
The patio heater needs to be properly attached and there should be no combustible material nearby.
Pressure Regulator
Gas regulators are simple mechanical appliances that we use in our homes and cars every day without giving them a second glance. Their invention created 135 years ago, has revolutionized the way natural gas and propane are used for heating, cooking and welding with oxyfuel. There are many variations in regulator design, but their basic purpose is the identical. The regulator utilizes an element that senses pressure, typically a dialythm made of fabric, to control a valve plug's location and limit the flow of gas.
The diaphragm connects to the stem of the valve by rod that runs through the diaphragm and spring and finally into the valve. This mechanism senses the gas pressure in the house or pipeline and adjusts the valve plug's position to meet the demand. As the gas consumption in the home decreases as does the pressure between regulator and house. The diaphragm expands downwards and the valve plug moves closer to the orifice in order to restrict the flow. As the demand in the home increases the valve will open further and increases the flow of gas.
The valve plug remains closed until the demand for the house decreases. The valve is then opened to increase the flow. This process is known as"sizing" and is the primary function of the regulator.
As the valve opens, pressure builds up in the main chamber which is connected to the outlet port of the hose by venturi tubes. This pressure can be adjusted by turning the screw or handle on the outside regulator. When the screw is turned counterclockwise it increases and decreases the pressure. When it is turned clockwise, it reduces the pressure.
When choosing a regulator for pressure, keep in mind that the maximum and minimum nominal pressure is dictated by commercial standards and not the pressure of the gas at the supply line. The regulator must also be compatible with your hose. Make sure you choose a hose that is whistle-free. It will feature alternating rings that are different sizes. This will stop resonant noises from building along the length.
Thermocouple
Thermocouples are based on the idea that two different metals that are in contact at one end generate a voltage potential even if they are at extremely different temperatures. They are used to determine the temperature differences between two points in a system, and convert this data into an electrical signal that can then be read by thermocouple meters or any other instrument. Thermocouples offer a number of advantages over other sensors such as thermistors, for instance, the ability to measure extremely high temperatures and operate in corrosive environments.
A pair of different metals is connected at one end of the sensor, forming the measuring (aka hot) junction, while the other end is maintained at a set temperature, referred to as the reference (aka cold) junction. Thermocouples generate small voltages, however, they're passive devices that do not require power to work. The voltage generated is proportional to the temperature difference between the measuring junction and the reference junction. Manufacturers of thermocouples as well as organizations that provide metrology standards, such as NIST, provide reference tables for the function E (T). displaystyle scriptstyle e(T) for each type of thermocouple.
There are three types of thermocouple connections: exposed grounded and weld. The exposed style of junction extends out of the protective sheath and provides the fastest response. For measurements in corrosive conditions, a grounded thermocouple should be utilized. A thermocouple welded to a wire is physically separated from the sheath with mgO powder to stop the penetration of gas or moisture that could cause errors.
A thermocouple welded to a wire has the added benefit of being more resistant to vibration. It is recommended to use in harsh environments and with pressures up to 3000 psi. When a thermocouple is damaged, it's typically caused by a lack of the polarity. If the sheath does not appear to be properly polarized, the two ends of the thermocouple will have unequal voltages at the measurement junction which could result in an inaccurate reading and even cause damage to the instrument. A sensor that isn't properly calibrated or installed could also result in a malfunctioning thermocouple.
Thermostat
Contrary to electric heaters, which need to be hardwired into the wall Gas patio heaters are portable and use natural gas or propane cylinders as fuel. The thermostats regulate the flow energy to these cylinders in order that they don't overflow however they can still provide warmth when needed. The thermostat is able to detect the temperature of the air passing through it. The thermostat can also detect that the room is at a temperature that is comfortable and turns off the heating.
Digital thermostats are the most popular. It is controlled by a microcontroller which converts a change in electrical resistance into a reading of temperature. It is able to do this more accurately than earlier mercury switch thermostats that used a coil of mercury that had three wires that moved according to the temperature. This allowed the thermostat to tilt a mercury switch that was connected to an electrical circuit to the air conditioner or heater, turning it on and off.
Another type of thermostat is one that is mechanical. It's a small cylinder filled with wax which begins to melt when it reaches a temperature that is perhaps 180 degrees F (different thermostats are open at different temperatures). A rod that connects to the valve is then pressed into the wax and opens the valve when it's hot. As gas heater for outdoor patio down the wax shrinks and the rod is pulled into the cylinder to close the valve.
There are also thermostats that can be programmed to switch at different times of the day. You can cut down on energy consumption by setting your heating to be turned off and on while you are working, or asleep, instead of having it always on. You can also set your thermostat to come on earlier so that you will arrive home to an ideal temperature. Thermostats often have an option called the heat anticipateor which stops the heater from switching on too soon. This is because some parts of the house reach the desired temperature before the thermostat is set.
Pilot Light
While many modern heating and home systems have done away with pilot lights, older homes and furnaces still rely on these devices to ignite gas in the chamber for burning. If the pilot light is ever snuffed out, it's vital to know how to re-light it safely.
A pilot light generates a small flame which heats the thermocouple. This thermocouple generates electricity and keeps the gas valve open. If the pilot flame ceases to burn the thermocouple cools and ceases to generate electricity, closing the gas valve. Pilot lights are found in the majority of propane and natural appliances, including fireplaces, water heaters furnaces, ranges, barbecues and hot tubs.
To light a pilot light, it is necessary that you first turn off the gas valve in the appliance. Then, you must remove any doors or panels that could hinder getting to the pilot light. Find the pilot light tube and carefully follow the instructions on the front of the appliance for opening it. Once you've switched off the pilot, turn the knob of the gas valve back to "on".
The main reason for leaving the pilot light on is to ensure safety. If it's accidentally shut off, the gas that is constantly escaping from the pilot light tube may accumulate in your home until a spark from an cigarette lighter or static electricity ignites it, causing an explosion. To avoid this, the pilot tubes come with an inbuilt cutoff valve.
Apart from the safety concerns the burning of a pilot light also wastes an enormous amount of energy. A pilot light burns between $7 to $18 worth of gas per month, according to various studies. This wasted fuel also places a heavier load on the air cooling system in summer. Pilot lights can attract spiders that can spin webs and clog up the pilot tubes. Also, a constant flame can emit trace amounts of the compound mercaptan, which produces the rotten egg smell found in natural gas. If you're concerned about these problems, consider getting a remote control gas fireplace or replacing your old fireplace with a modern, efficient model.