Digital Simulation of a Pneumatic Pressure Regulator

Abstract

A dynamic, lumped parameter, numerical mathematical model of a pneumatic pressure regulator was developed to digitally predict the pressure/time response of a regulator. The purpose of this study is to provide a greater understanding of regulator operation and to serve as a useful tool in the design stages of regulator development. The regulator studied was a high pressure, piston pressure sensing unit that had a conical poppet valve that regulates gas flow. A model was developed that allowed the piston and poppet the freedom to move independently, travel together or collide. Comparing transient, theoretical predictions of the pressure/time response to experimentally determined results, the theoretical results were determined to be very accurate.