The amount of fluid released from an outlet is typically determined by inlet fluid pressure and valve size. High-pressure faucets, for instance, frequently deliver typically more amounts of water than is required for tasks in homes, public buildings, or factories.
A flow restrictor, as the name suggests, regulates the amount of fluid that can exit an outlet. Flow restrictors are used to control the volume of fluids, such as water or air, that flows out of a faucet or other dispenser. These gadgets are frequently environmentally friendly and can aid in the reduction of water expenses. For example, flow restrictors can help consumers save water when washing dishes or taking a shower.
What is a Flow Restrictor?
Simply put, a flow restrictor is a device that controls the rate at which fluids flows through an outlet. Also known as flow limiters, they permit fluids to flow at a steady rate into and out of systems that benefit from stable fluid volumes, such as water filters, irrigation systems, and tankless water heaters, to name a few.
Flow restrictors allow appliances and filtration systems to operate at peak efficiency while also protecting these systems from minor to major harms caused by excessive flow. These devices maintain the ideal water flow within such systems to maintain long lifespans at high efficiency.
How does a Flow Restrictor Work?
Flow restrictors used in faucets are typically fitted onto the outlet or inserted within the faucet. Many of them have aerated nozzles that spray a tiny mist of water rather than a continuous stream. Water flow regulators maintain a regular flow rate of water in a water outlet by opening and shutting a two-port valve. They reduce the area through which water can flow as the capacity of the supply line grows and continue to do so regardless of water pressure fluctuations.
An air flow restrictor, on the other hand, is used to manage air flow and pressure and can be beneficial for a variety of applications. Engines may have these devices added to reduce power. Some motorbike engines, for example, include air restrictors that limit their speed. Toy guns can also have air restrictors fitted to lessen their power when firing.
Engineers working with flow restrictor to manage fluid flow may refer to holes and to calibrated orifices, two very distinct entities. A hole can be any opening; a calibrated orifice is specially designed to precisely control fluid flow, and its diameter, length, and geometry are critical to its intended operation. With the proper design, an orifice can provide the desired control of fluid flow rates and pressure spikes. When a fluid, either liquid or gaseous, passes through an orifice, its pressure increases upstream of the orifice. As the fluid is forced to converge and pass through the orifice, the velocity increases, and the fluid pressure decreases. This occurrence is based on the principle of conservation of energy and is used from derive Bernoulli’s equation.
Applications and Benefits of Flow Restrictors
Flow restrictors are most associated with showerheads, but they are frequently adopted in a variety of other applications. For instance, water flow restrictors play an important role in the health and efficiency of domestic and industrial water systems, from filtration systems to water heaters to irrigation systems.
RO flow restrictors are also commonly used today to maintain a reverse osmosis system and restrict the amount of wastewater flowing into the system. Furthermore, the flow restrictor prevents the RO system from creating excessive effluent.
The water flow in reverse osmosis systems, water softeners, and other filtration systems need specific amounts of time in contact with the filter media or they will not treat the water efficiently or effectively. Flow restrictors prove a beneficial aid in such processes. Water flow restrictors also aid in flow management, system performance, energy savings, and user comfort in UV disinfection systems, geothermal equipment, distributing machines, electronic faucets, and irrigation systems. Apart from multiple domestic applications, flow restrictors improve comfort in low-pressure supply lines and save energy in high-pressure supply lines, thus preventing built-up pressure from harming pipes, appliances, and fixtures.
There are also multi-orifice flow restrictor this employ multiple orifices in series to increase the total combined restriction. Similar to the use of a capillary tube, a multi orifice flow restrictor may have a larger minimum passage size for an equivalent restriction as compared to a single orifice flow restrictor. The main advantage of multi-orifice restrictors is that the larger minimum passage size for an equivalent restriction. This makes them less susceptible to clogging due to debris. In addition, the pressure drop across each individual orifice is less than that across a single orifice. This can reduce the potential for cavitation in liquid flow. A typical application for multi-orifice flow restrictor is delay function (very low flow rate) in upstream oil and gas.
At Winova, we offer various micro and precision micro-hydraulics products and electro-fluidic systems for industrial applications. Get in touch with us right away to learn more about what we do and how we can help.
