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Gas Patio Heater Regulator If you're planning on cozying up in the cold outdoors with a propane patio heater, it's crucial to be aware of how to use this appliance. Matthew Griffith, prevention section chief of the Montreal fire department, said that consumers should be looking for products that are safe to use. It's also important to ensure that there are no nearby combustible objects and that the patio heater is correctly connected. Pressure Regulator Gas regulators are simple mechanical devices that we use in our vehicles and homes every day without giving them a second glance. Their invention, 135 years ago, revolutionized the way natural gas and propane are used for heating, cooking, and oxy-fuel welding. The basic function of regulators is the same, but there are numerous variations. The regulator uses a pressure sensing element, often a fabric-reinforced diaphragm to regulate the position of the valve plug, and to limit the flow of gas. The diaphragm is connected to the valve stem with a rod that runs through the set spring, through the diaphragm, and finally into the valve. The pressure of gas coming from the pipeline or from the house is sensed 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 regulator and house. This causes the diaphragm to decrease in size, and then it moves the valve plug closer to the orifice, limiting the flow. As the demand for gas increases in the home the valve will open more, thereby increasing the flow. The valve plug remains shut until the demand of the house decreases. The valve is then opened to increase the flow. This process is known as sizing and it is the basic operation of the regulator. When the valve is opened the pressure builds up in the main chamber, which is connected to the outlet port of the hose via venturi tubes. This pressure can be adjusted by adjusting the screw or handle located on the outside of the regulator. When the screw is turned counterclockwise, it raises the pressure. When gas or electric patio heater is turned clockwise, it decreases the pressure. When you are choosing a regulator for your pressure, remember that the maximum and minimum nominal pressures are established by commercial standards, and not the pressure at the supply line. The regulator must be compatible with the hose you are using. Choose a hose which is marked as whistle-free with various sizes of rings to prevent resonant sounds from building up across the length of the hose. Thermocouple Thermocouples are based on the idea that different types of metals when in contact at their respective ends can generate the voltage even if they are operating at extremely different temperatures. They are used to determine the temperature difference between two points in a system and transform this information into an electrical signal that can then be read by thermocouple meter or another instrument. Thermocouples are superior to other sensors, like thermistors. gas flame patio heater can detect extremely high temperatures and operate in corrosive environments. The measuring (or hot) junction is formed by connecting two metals with different properties at one end, while the other end, the reference (or cold) junction, is maintained at the same temperature. Thermocouples produce small voltages, however, they are passive devices that do not require power to perform their functions. The voltage produced is proportional to the temperature difference between the reference and measuring junctions. Manufacturers of thermocouples and organizations that offer metrology standards, for example NIST offer reference tables for the function E (T). displaystyle scriptstyle e(T) For each particular type of thermocouple. There are three primary kinds of thermocouple junctions: an exposed, grounded and welded wire. The exposed type of junction protrudes from the protective sheath, and provides the fastest response. A thermocouple that is grounded is recommended for testing in corrosive environments. A welded-wire thermocouple is physically separated from the sheath with mgO powder. This stops 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 extreme environments with pressures of up to 3000 psi. If a thermocouple becomes damaged, it is usually caused by a lack in polarity. If the sheath does not appear to be properly polarized, the two ends of the thermocouple will be in a state of discordant voltages at the junction of measurement that could lead to an inaccurate reading and possibly damage the instrument. A malfunctioning thermocouple could be caused by a poorly calibrated or installed sensor. Thermostat In contrast to electric heaters that need to be hardwired into the wall Gas patio heaters are portable and use natural gas or propane cylinders to fuel. Thermostats regulate the flow energy into these cylinders in order to ensure that they don't overflow but still provide heat as needed. The thermostat detects the temperature of the air passing over it. The thermostat also senses when the room has been cooled to a comfortable temperature and switches the heating off. The most commonly used type of thermostat is one that is digital. It is controlled by a microcontroller which converts a fluctuating electrical resistance into a measure of temperature. It is able to perform this more accurately than older mercury switch thermostats that utilized mercury coils with three wires in it 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 an air conditioner or heater switching it on and off. A mechanical thermostat is a different type. This has a small cylinder filled with wax that starts to melt at a temperature of possibly 180 degrees F (different thermostats open up at different temperatures). A rod that is connected to the valve then presses into the wax and opens the valve when it's hot. As the room cools, the wax contracts and the rod is pulled back into the cylinder, closing the valve. You can also program thermostats to change the temperature at various time of the daytime. You can cut down on energy consumption by programming your heating system to switch off and on when you're at work or sleeping, rather than having it running all the time. You can also set the thermostat to come on earlier so that your home will be a comfortable temperature when you arrive back from work or school. Thermostats also often include an element called the heat anticipator that stops the heater from switching off too early. This is because parts of the home often attain the temperature set before the thermostat itself does. Pilot Light While many newer homes and heating systems have eliminated pilot lights, older homes and furnaces still use them to light the gas in the chamber for burning. It's essential to know how to safely restart the pilot light if it ever fails. A pilot light generates tiny flames that heat a thermocouple, which generates electricity and keeps the gas valve open. When the pilot flame stops the thermocouple cools and ceases to produce electricity, closing the valve. Pilot lights are used on most natural gas and propane appliances, like water heaters. To relight the pilot, you first need to shut off the gas on the appliance. You must then take off any doors or panels that may be blocking the access to the pilot light. Locate the pilot light tube and carefully follow the steps on the front of the appliance to open it. Once you've switched off the pilot then turn the knob on the gas valve to “on”. The main reason for leaving a pilot light on is for safety reasons. If it's accidentally extinguished and the gas that's constantly venting out of the pilot light tube can build up in your home until a spark from an smoking cigarette or static electricity ignites it and causes an explosion. The tubes designed for pilots include a built-in cutoff valve that can keep this from happening. A pilot light that is constantly burning is not just dangerous however, it also consumes energy. A pilot light burns between $7 and $18 worth of gasoline per month, according to different studies. The wasted fuel also puts more strain on the air cooling system in summer. Pilot lights can attract spiders which can spin webs and block up the pilot tubes. A flame that is constant can release small amounts of the compound Mercaptan that is responsible for the rotten-egg smell in natural gas. If you are ever concerned about these issues, think about purchasing a gas fire with a remote control or replacing a fireplace with a more effective, modern design.