How do flow regulators work?
A typical flow regulator consists of three components:
- a housing
- a seating area
- a precision o-ring
The flow rate is determined by the interaction between the seating area and the o-ring. When water flows through the regulator at a higher or lower pressure, the shape of the o-ring changes.
Static state (no flow; no pressure or low pressure): The o-ring is relaxed (position 1).
Dynamic state (flow): When water flows through the flow regulator, the shape of the o-ring changes and it is pushed into the seating area. This reduces the amount of space for the water to pass through (position 2).
The higher the flow pressure, the more the shape of the o-ring changes (position 3).
As the pressure decreases, the o-ring gradually returns to its original shape, making larger spaces for the water to pass through again (back to positions 2 and 1).
In this interaction, the o-ring and seating area adapt to the changing pressure conditions. A constant flow rate within the specified tolerance is ensured.