Basic Guide to Flow Restrictors

For domestic and industrial applications alike, controlling water flow through a system can offer many benefits and cost savings, so it is wise to invest in a flow restrictor to reduce the output of water during operations. Flow restrictors, also referred to as flow regulators or flow limiters, play the important role of regulating water supply in showers, hoses, pipes, and other systems. While industrial flow restrictors are slightly different from those used in daily appliances, all function to ensure that the output of water in the system is less gallons-per-minute than the rate of flow approaching the valve. As these components are found in numerous applications, this blog will cover the basics of where, how, and why to use flow restrictors for your better knowledge.

As they have many applications, flow restrictors can look different depending on their make and model, but all of them are designed to restrict flow by reducing the available area for water flow to move through. For example, the shape of the component will vary and it may be inserted at various points in a system, such as at the end of a shower head or at an intermediate point on a pipe. In shower heads, flow restrictors are typically installed as a part of the system or included in the shower head package as an optional element. For this and other domestic purposes, those of which include taps, hoses, fountains, and washres, flow restrictors have become increasingly popular due to cost savings and increased awareness of domestic water overconsumption. These domestic restrictors may offer multiple different plastic disks that are interchangeable and can be swapped out to allow different rates of gallons per minute flow, but overall they are designed for less rigorous applications than industrial flow restrictors.

Industrial grade flow restrictors can be used for domestic applications, and they will provide better quality as they are made of more durable materials. As such, they are less likely to break and require repair, that of which is often more expensive than the cost of higher grade materials. Unlike domestic flow restrictors, their more durable counterparts can be used for heavy duty applications, including fluid metering, motor speed control, inkjet printing, medical applications, semiconductors, reverse osmosis systems, and much more. Therefore, industrial flow restrictors are designed to handle much higher pressure and temperature environments, and they can be built for much larger line sizes.

Despite any inconsistencies in the incoming flow of water to the restrictor, the outward flow rate will remain the same because flow restrictors only allow a predetermined amount of water through. Unlike flow meters, flow restrictors cannot measure nor report the rate of flow to the user; however, both components may be used in tandem to monitor a system. Regardless of application, if you are in the market for reliable flow restrictors, spring plates, and other top quality components, look no further than Fasteners 360!

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1. martin nelson
2. Posted on July 29, 2022
aviation

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