Gas Patio Heater Regulator
It's important to understand how to use a propane patio heater if want to stay warm in the cold winter. Matthew Griffith, prevention section chief of Montreal's fire department, said that consumers should look for products that are safe to use.
The patio heater should be properly attached and there shouldn't be any combustible material nearby.
Pressure Regulator
Gas regulators are simple mechanical devices that we drive through every day in our cars and at home without giving them a second thought. Their invention first introduced 135 years ago, has revolutionized how propane and natural gas are used for cooking, heating and welding using oxyfuel. The fundamental role of regulators is exactly similar, but there are many variations. The regulator is based on an element that detects pressure, usually a fabric-reinforced dialythm, to control a valve plug's location and limit the flow of gas.
The diaphragm is connected to the stem of the valve by rods that go through the set spring, through the diaphragm before entering the valve. patio heater gas regulator coming from the pipeline or the house is detected by this mechanism and it adjusts position of the valve plug to match it to the demand of the house. As the consumption of gas in the home decreases and the pressure decreases between the regulator and the house. The diaphragm is deflated downward and the valve plug is moved closer to the orifice in order to restrict the flow. As the demand for gas in the home increases, the valve opens further, increasing the flow of gas.
The valve plug remains shut until the demand of the house decreases. The valve then opens to increase the flow. This process is called sizing and it is the primary function of the regulator.
When the valve is opened it creates pressure up in the main chamber of the regulator, which is attached to the hose outlet port via the venturi tube (see image). The pressure is controlled by adjusting a screw or handle located on the outside of the regulator. When the screw is turned counterclockwise, it expands and decreases the pressure; when it is turned clockwise it lowers the pressure.
When choosing a pressure regulator be aware that the maximum and minimal nominal pressures are established by commercial standards, and not the pressure at the supply line. The regulator should be compatible with the hose you use. Find a hose marked whistle-free. It should 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 different metals in contact with each other at their ends can generate a voltage, even if they are at very varying temperatures. They are used to measure the temperature differences between two points in a system and transform this information into an electrical signal that can be read by thermocouple meters or any other instrument. Thermocouples are superior to other sensors, such as thermistors. They can measure extremely high temperatures and function in harsh environments.
A pair of metals that are dissimilar are connected to one end of the sensor to form the measuring (aka hot) junction, and the other end is maintained at a set temperature, known as the reference (aka cold) junction. Thermocouples operate as passive devices, which means they do not require power to operate. The voltage produced is proportional to the difference in temperatures between the measuring and reference junctions. Thermocouple manufacturers as well as metrology standards organizations such as NIST provide reference tables of the function E (T) Displaystyle scriptstyle e(T) for each type of thermocouple.
There are three main types of thermocouple junctions- an exposed, grounded and wire that is welded. The type of junction that is exposed protrudes from the protective sheath and provides the fastest response. A grounded thermocouple is recommended for use in environments with corrosive elements. A thermocouple that is welded is physically isolated from the sheath with mgO powder. This prevents gas or moisture from entering and causing errors.
A thermocouple welded to a wire has the added benefit of being more resistant to vibration. It is recommended to use it in abrasive environments that require pressures up to 3000 psi. If a thermocouple becomes damaged, it's usually caused by a lack in the polarity. If the sheath is not correctly polarized, both ends of the thermocouple will have unequal voltages at the measurement junction which could result in an incorrect reading and damage the instrument. A malfunctioning thermocouple could be caused by a poorly calibrated or installed sensor.
Thermostat
Gas patio heaters, unlike electric heaters that are hardwired to the wall are portable and run on propane or natural gas. Thermostats control the flow of energy to these cylinders so they don't spill over, however they can still provide heat when needed. The thermostat achieves this by detecting the temperature of the air that flows over it. The thermostat also senses when the room has been cooled to a comfortable level and turns off the heating.
The most common type of thermostat is a digital device. It uses a microcontroller that converts a fluctuating electrical resistance into a measure of temperature. It can perform this more accurately than previous mercury switch thermostats that employed a mercury coil with three wires that would move based on temperature. This allowed the thermostat to tilt a switch made of mercury that was connected to an electrical circuit that was used to power the air conditioner or heater, turning it on and off.
Mechanical thermostats are another kind. This has a small cylinder filled with wax which begins to melt when it reaches a temperature that is possibly 180 degrees F (different thermostats are open at different temperatures). A rod connected to the valve presses into the wax, and opens the valve when it's hot. As the room cools down the wax shrinks and the rod is pushed into the cylinder, closing the valve.
You can set thermostats to change the temperature at various times throughout the day. You can reduce energy usage by programming your heating to turn on and off while you are at work, or sleeping, instead of being running all the time. You can also set your thermostat to come on earlier so that you will arrive home to an ideal temperature. Thermostats often have an element called the heat anticipator that prevents the heater from turning on too soon. This is due to the fact that different areas of the house typically reach the set temperature before the thermostat itself does.
Pilot Light
Although many modern heating and homes have done away with pilot lights, older homes and furnaces still rely on these devices to ignite gas in the burner chamber. It's important to learn how to safely restart the pilot light if it ever fails.
A pilot light produces a small flame that heats the thermocouple, which produces electricity and keeps the gas valve open. If the pilot flame dies, the thermocouple cools and ceases to generate electricity, thus closing the gas valve. Pilot lights are utilized on a majority of propane and natural gas appliances, such as water heaters.
To light a pilot light, it is necessary that you first turn off the gas valve at the appliance. Then you need to remove any doors or panels that may hinder accessing the pilot light. Locate the pilot light tube and follow the steps on the back of the appliance for opening it. Once you've switched off the pilot, turn the knob on the gas valve to "on".
Safety is the primary reason for leaving a pilot light on. If it's accidentally shut off, the gas that is constantly escaping from the pilot light tube could accumulate in your home until a spark from the spark from a cigarette lighter or static electricity ignites it and causes an explosion. The tubes designed for pilots contain a built-in cutoff valve that can stop this from happening.
A constant burning pilot light is not only dangerous, but it also wastes energy. A pilot light can burn between $7 to $18 worth of gas per month, according to different studies. This wasted fuel puts a heavier burden on the air conditioner during summer. Another issue with pilot lights is that it can attract spiders, who can create webs that block the pilot tubes. A constant flame could release tiny amounts of the chemical Mercaptan which is responsible for the smell of rotten eggs that is common in natural gas. If you're worried about these issues, think about getting a remote control gas fireplace or replacing your old fireplace with a new efficient model.