Andrew ZonenbergSep 18, 2024

Is there such a thing as a second stage low pressure inert gas regulator?

In other words, suppose I wanted to regulate 2000psi N2 out of a tank down to say 75 psi manifold pressure then have separate taps off the manifold for 5 and 15 PSI outlet pressure. Is that doable without two separate tanks regulating down from full tank pressure?

Show threadChris PetrilliSep 18, 2024
@azonenberg can’t say for sure with N2 but this is pretty common to do this with “shop air” that runs at ~100psi and then individual regulators to bring it down to the necessary local level. But it does require multiple regulators and not sure if you could use normal air regulators (which are more affordable) but I don’t see why not given N2 is such a huge percentage of common air.
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergSep 18, 2024
@petrillic shop air usually has oil in it and gear designed to run on it may expect lubrication mist. As opposed to stuff meant for CDA which might be OK for clean N2.
Show threadEd MasteSep 18, 2024
@azonenberg @petrillic Festo's got lots of regulators that list both "Compressed air to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:4:4]" and "Inert gases"
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergSep 18, 2024
@emaste @petrillic Yeah but how many will be happy with tens va thousands of psi inlet pressure? That's the hard part
Show threaddavidc__

@azonenberg @emaste @petrillic

Most of them. Check out SMC pneumatics regulators for example. I do exactly what you are suggesting for my SEM: bulk N2 tank pressure down to 50psi or so, final precision regulator for the 3psi purge pressure I need. I can get part numbers later if desired.

Sep 18, 2024 at 4:41pmWeb
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergSep 18, 2024

@davidc__ @emaste @petrillic Yeah that would be good. I'm probably just using the wrong keywords searching.

The stuff I'm looking at mostly has a CGA 580 inlet fitting and is meant for ~2000 PSI inlet pressure. I don't even know where I'd buy plumbing parts to run a manifold of CGA 580; I as assuming I'd plumb the manifold with NPT or similar.

Not a super near term priority we're just looking at simplifying some gas plumbing at work and we have a SEM and some other gear that all have mutually incompatible N2 pressure requirements. So I'd like to not need one tank per tool given the amount of space we have in our mechanical room.

Show threaddavidc__Sep 18, 2024

@azonenberg @emaste @petrillic my understanding is that pressure regulators are gas type sensitive only due to the fittings (designed for a specific tank type) and material compatibility.

There shouldn’t be a material compatibility issue with N2 for any compressed air regulator; so I think you should just look for a generic compressed air regulator for your target pressure.

Flow regulators are gas type specific because they are differential pressure regulators looking for a differential pressure across a calibrated orifice, which is gas type specific.

Show threaddavidc__Sep 18, 2024

@azonenberg @emaste @petrillic also, with regards to potentially needing oil mist for compressed air regulators; there are lots of generic compressed air systems that are oil free (anything painting, for example).

I have never seen a regulator call out that it requires inline oiling.