The way to control & assure gas customer safety
The Regulator Test Machines (RTMs) are designed to test gas pressure regulators in the vertical position and commercial and higher distribution pressure regulators in the horizontal position.
Note that the RTM is a custom machine designed to meet the specific requirements of the natural gas utility.
Questar Natural Gas was one of our first clients and they purchased a second rTM
REMEMBER - IRVs Provide the Level of Safety Needed Should the Regulator Not Lock Up
Back in the day, when we had "pilot lights" on the appliances, we didn't need the internal relief that an Internal Relief Valve (IRV) provides. The "pilot light" would effectively burn off the leaking gas. With the proliferation of high-efficiency equipment and fast-acting gas valves, the ability of the gas pressure regulator to close 100% is critical to both operation and safety.
If the gas pressure regulator does not lock up, the pressure will build up in the downstream piping. For safety, the IRV will open and relieve this pressure, and the smell of gas will be an "Alert" to notify the utility that the pressure regulator needs repair. Otherwise, the pressure would increase, and there might be an explosion. Recently, gas pressure regulators have been designed to include an Over Pressure Shut Off (OPSO) feature that shuts off the gas supply in case of a regulator lock-up failure.
ESC demonstrates how to do an in-test for IRV and OPSO by using the "virtual platform." ESC has also created a platform to support "virtual" on-site commissioning of the natural gas pressure Regulator Testing Machine (RTM) and the training of natural gas utility meter shop personnel. In the demonstration, you can better understand the IRV and OPSO features of the state-of-the-art pressure regulators. Platform features include:1. A webcam, tripod, cabling, and software package;2. Coordination with the utility;3. IT to manage the interface;4. Engineering to provide regulator performance specifications and5. Meter shop personnel to schedule gas pressure regulator in-test operations.
The platform also provides the meter shop personnel the benefit of a continuous on-demand ESC Engineering "on-site" presence to deal with in-test procedures for new technology like the over-pressure-shut-off regulator and other issues that need consulting.
The platform also provides the meter shop personnel the benefit of a continuous on-demand ESC Engineering "on-site" presence to deal with in-test procedures for new technology like the over-pressure-shut-off regulator and other issues that need consulting.