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www.equilibar.com
828.650.6590
©2010-2020 Equilibar, LLC
25/08/20 R6
Your Equilibar® back pressure regulator (BPR) arrives assembled,
cleaned and ready to install.
•
Every Equilibar regulator is individually hand tested at the factory
for operation and external leakage. Leak testing is typically
performed at 1.5X the MAWP.
•
Equilibar regulators are cleaned internally and externally at the
factory using aqueous based cleaners in an ultrasonic cleaner
and manual wipe down with denatured alcohol.
•
A small amount of DuPont Krytox lubricant is occasionally used
on the internal non-wetted O-ring.
•
Inspect the Equilibar® BPR for any damage. Consult Equilibar
before proceeding if you find any damage.
•
Verify that the part number on the Equilibar BPR product label
matches what you had requested.
•
Verify that the rating on the Equilibar BPR label for maximum
allowable working pressure (MAWP) and maximum allowable
working temperature (MAWT) will not be exceeded when the
BPR is used.
•
Many diaphragms are manufactured with a small tab of
protruding material. This is nonfunctional and is included only
to allow easy inspection of the diaphragm material and thickness
without the need to disassemble the regulator.
•
Call or e-mail Equilibar if you have any questions, concerns, or
need a new copy of these instructions. Be sure to include the
full part number and serial number of the BPR you are inquiring
about. (+1-828-650-6590,
•
The Equilibar BPR is not a “Safety Accessory” as defined by the
Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU. Be sure to install
appropriate over pressure protection devices such as safety relief
valves or rupture discs to protect the system and the BPR from
exceeding the maximum allowable working pressures. These
safety devices must meet applicable law, codes, regulations, and
standards for your jurisdiction.
•
Take precautions to prevent injury to personnel in the event of a
diaphragm failure or external leak. Sensitive fluid controls such
as the Equilibar BPR can experience internal or external leaks.
See standard terms and conditions for important limitations of
liability notes
•
Diaphragms may fail in the open or closed position. Proper
should be taken for either failure mode.
•
Inlet ports are stamped with an “I” as shown. Outlet ports are
stamped with an “O”.
•
The inlet “I” port is connected to the point in the system where
it is desirable to maintain or control the pressure. The best
pressure control will be seen if the plumbing to the BPR inlet
port is as short and as large as practical to minimize the amount
of pressure drop in the plumbing.
•
Install a strainer or filter upstream of the Equilibar BPR where
necessary to prevent plugging of the orifices. Recommended
100 micron/100mesh or better. Consider the effect that pressure
drop in the filter will have on the pressure control in your system.
•
System media will be vented through the BPR outlet “O”
port. Be sure that the media is vented to a safe environment,
away from employees, and in accordance with applicable
laws in your jurisdiction. Take care that the outlet port cannot
become blocked during operation by a valve closure, snow, ice,
condensate, insects, birds nesting, etc.
•
Even inert gasses can cause suffocation through oxygen
displacement. Ensure that adequate ventilation and oxygen
levels will be maintained when media is vented from the BPR’s
outlet (O) port.
•
Provide adequate exhaust line capacity to prevent pressure
build-up on the BPR’s outlet (O) port. Short or oversized exhaust
lines are recommended.
•
Tapered pipe thread connections will require the addition of
a sealant. PTFE tape may be used if it is compatible with your
process and media. Take care that the PTFE tape does not extend
past the first two male threads to prevent tape from being
ingested by the regulator. Tape or other debris can prevent the
BPR from closing tightly, thereby decreasing precision at low flow
rates. PTFE based pipe dope, or an anaerobic “Loctite” product
may also be used as a sealant. Confirm that any thread sealant is
compatible with your process, temperature, and media.
•
Thread sealant should be used on pipe threads of plastic units.
Users take caution not to over torque fittings into polymer
bodies. This can result in cracking or damage of the unit.
Industry standard recommendation is 1/4 turn past hand tight.
•
Any bolt, screw, or connector that is threaded into a stainless steel
body should have some small amount of lubricant to prevent
thread galling. Threads galling together is usually permanent
and causes the regulator to be scrapped. The Equilibar factory
applies Swagelok® brand Silver Goop® to all bolt and screw
thread connections that are not wetted by the process fluid.
PREPARING THE PILOT REGULATOR
•
The pilot pressure medium should be an inert compressible gas.
Incompressible media such as liquids do not make effective pilot
media because they do not allow the BPR diaphragm to adjust
quickly. Make sure the pilot medium is compatible with the
media flowing through the BPR.
•
The controlled pressure is a near exact 1:1 relationship to the
pilot pressure. Many users find that installing a pressure gauge
in the pilot port offers advantages over installing a gauge in
the Inlet “I” port. The inert pilot media can be read with a less
expensive gauge and the pilot pressure may be set even when
there is no system media actively flowing.
PREPARING FOR INSTALLATION
Research Series Precision Back Pressure Regulator
1.
The Equilibar BPR and pilot regulator arrive ready to use.
2.
Install the pilot regulator following instructions included with
the order. Check the performance of the pilot regulator before
attaching to the pilot port of the Equilibar BPR.
3.
The Equilibar BPR is not orientation sensitive and may be
mounted in any plane and maintain good pressure control.
4.
Ensure that the inlet “I” and outlet “O” are installed in the proper
direction of flow. Pressure is controlled at the inlet “I” port.
5.
Connect the pilot regulator outlet port to the pilot(reference)
port of the BPR and adjust the pressure to the desired setpoint.
6.
Equilibar recommends an initial setting of polymer and rubber
diaphragms up to 1.5X of application operating pressure. This
is achieved by applying pressure to the reference port of the
Equilibar. This ‘setting of the diaphragm’ can help the diaphragm
perform at lower flow rates. For metal diaphragms, Equilibar
recommends applying a set pressure of
only 1X
of operating
pressure for best performance. The unit is designed to withstand
full differential pressure of rated pressure from reference/pilot to
process pressure.
INSTALLING
INSTALLING CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
