Globe valve as a gas regulator?

I need a gas tap to regulate butane output from small gas tank to ceramic burner - will a standard globe valve do or does it need something special?

AJohnW is you man

A gas regulator is designed to enable gas to be provided at constant pressure. Any form of control valve, globe or otherwise, will just cut the flow rate of the gas. You really need both a regulator and a control valve to give proper control over your burner.

Ive had a look at those for sale ont web and they just seem to have a single screw valve, dont look like globe valves which is wyh I question what is required - thanks

No his not but ...............

For that sort of thing a needle valve is usually used as the pressure doesn't vary much.

They can be rather expensive. One cheap answer is to adapt a torch that would normally screw onto a can of gas. I have seen something or the other somewhere where this is being done. Might be Myfordboy on youtube or his site. Not sure. They may be a bit coarse adjustment wise. There are lots of real ones for various uses on ebay often for hydraulics and expensive.

You could also fit a pressure regulator upstream of the needle valve. That's usually done to limit power when torches and picnic stoves etc are connected.

I don't think one for welding eg argon would be much good as they are designed to work at pretty low pressures. Not sure off hand what the native pressure of a can of gas is.

John

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Fizzy,

I think they may only be available with Propane fittings, but the Bullfinch 'Bijou' regulator is quite compact, and very finely adjustable: **LINK**

http://gasproducts.co.uk/gas-regulators/propane-gas-regulators-high-pressure/bullfinch-1465-bijou-0-5-2-bar-high-pressure-propane-gas-regulator.html

MichaelG.

There are plans for a gas regulator for models on MEM I think, have a look.

Ian S C

Fizzy, have a read of Ramon's thread, this post is where he describes the gas tank and its valves though there is talk of its design earlier in the thread, there is another shot on teh next page showing teh canister regulator for filling the tank.

Nothing really special needed just a 60deg spindle onto a 60deg seat formed with a ctr drill on th etank and a finer point to regulate flow on teh burner

Edited By JasonB on 13/01/2017 12:33:24

I think Fizzy may be using 'regulator' in the sense of flow regulator rather than pressure. Most small burners run direct from full tank pressure with a simple valve (think gas blowlamp)

The camping stove burner I fitted to my test boiler is just a screw down cone on seat valve.

Neil

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He may well be, Neil ... I wouldn't know.

I have no idea what pressure the ceramic burners run best at; but I have a general preference for 'pressure regulators' on gas equipment wherever practical.

MichaelG.

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Edit: to further my education, I've just found this thread:

 http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/archive/making-a-ceramic-burner.__o_t__t_36341.html

which may be of interest.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 13/01/2017 15:37:20

I suspect this is why Myfordboy just adapted a cheap screw on blowlamp. It's shown near the end of this video.

I think he feeds this set up via a 2 bar regulator but that will be down to the gas jet. When on the original torch the needle valve uses what ever pressure is in the can. I'd guess that the cheap torch might have been shrouded in plastic when he bought it

Whoops should also mention that if the pressure after the regulator is lower than in the usual can which it will be the needle valve is likely to give finer control than it normally does.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 13/01/2017 16:21:14

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As clearly stated on-screen at about 16:57

MichaelG.

There was a bit of talk about pipe fitting blow lamps a while ago. I found those well known super and often expensive pencil flame famous make ones that everyone must have pretty useless on 22mm and not much better on 15. This one is much better.

**LINK**

John

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What - me watch it entirely. I just made sure that the needle valve was there. More recently he has switched to some from China one for oil fired but mentions that air types are also available.

John

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Having built a number of locos in 16mm scale using poker and ceramic burners, a simple needle valve is quite adequate at controlling the gas flow to the burner. There are many companies manufacturing same. If you need specific recommendations just ask.

Grum

Neil is correct - poor terminology on my part. Thanks for the responses. I now think it is a needle valve I require.

Thanks for the clarification, fizzy

MichaelG.

Just getting back to this one, Grum, can you please elaborate on the needle valve, what spec or where to get or make them please?

Fizzy,

Try these guys, http://www.clevedonsteam.co.uk, they do a selection of gas tanks & fittings that would probably suit your needs. I've used them in the past for a valve to connect to a camping type gas cylinder to run a small ceramic burner & been very happy with the quality.

Regards, Martin.