Main Features and Advantages
- Two-Stage Regulation: Provides highly stable and accurate outlet pressure, even with significant drops in cylinder or upstream pressure. This is critical for applications requiring consistent pressure delivery.
- High Purity Design: Features a diffusion-resistant metal-to-metal diaphragm seal (often Elgiloy® or 316 SS diaphragm) and high-purity wetted materials (316 SS, PTFE). This minimizes contamination and ensures gas purity, essential for specialty and research gases.
- Continuous, Accurate Outlet Pressure: Designed to maintain a precise outlet pressure regardless of inlet pressure fluctuations, making it ideal for maintaining critical process conditions.
- Low Decaying Inlet Characteristic: This indicates minimal “droop” (increase in outlet pressure as inlet pressure decays). A value of 0.04 psig per 100 psig inlet change is excellent for maintaining stability.
- Compact and Lightweight: Suitable for cylinder mounting and integration into confined spaces.
- Corrosion Resistance: The 316 Stainless Steel body and wetted parts make it suitable for a wide range of specialty, corrosive, and pyrophoric gases.
- Bubble-Tight Internal Sealing: Ensures no internal leakage, maintaining gas integrity and preventing waste.
- Convoluted Diaphragms: Enhance sensitivity and accuracy in pressure control.
Application Field
The TESCOM 44-3461S24-507 is primarily used in applications where precise, stable, and high-purity pressure regulation of specialty, corrosive, or pyrophoric gases from high-pressure cylinders or systems is critical. Its two-stage design is particularly beneficial where inlet pressure variation is expected.
Common applications include:
- Analytical Instrumentation: Supplying precise and stable gas pressure to gas chromatographs (GCs), mass spectrometers (MS), atomic absorption (AA) spectrometers, and other laboratory analyzers.
- Lasers: Providing consistent gas pressure to laser systems.
- Laboratories: General laboratory gas supply for research, calibration, and various experiments.
- Semiconductor Industry: For highly controlled gas delivery in fabrication processes.
- Specialty Gas Systems: Regulation of high-purity calibration gases, process gases, or hazardous gases.
- Process Control: In small-scale or pilot plant operations requiring precise gas pressure.
Related Products
For a complete gas delivery system involving the TESCOM 44-3461S24-507 regulator, related products would include:
- Gas Cylinders: The high-pressure gas source.
- Cylinder Connections/Pigtails: To connect the cylinder to the regulator inlet.
- Pressure Gauges: While the -507 might specify gauges, separate inlet and outlet gauges are often essential for monitoring.
- Shutoff Valves: Upstream and downstream of the regulator for isolation.
- Check Valves: To prevent backflow.
- Purge Assemblies: For safely purging gas lines before and after use.
- Flowmeters/Mass Flow Controllers: To measure and control the flow rate of the gas downstream of the regulator.
- Filters: To ensure gas purity and protect downstream equipment.
- Gas Detectors: For safety when handling hazardous gases.
- Tubing and Fittings: High-purity stainless steel tubing and appropriate fittings (e.g., Swagelok, Parker A-LOK) to maintain gas integrity.
- Relief Valves: Downstream to protect equipment from over-pressurization, even though the regulator is designed for stability
Installation and Maintenance
Installation and maintenance of the TESCOM 44-3461S24-507 must adhere to strict safety protocols, especially when dealing with high-pressure, specialty, corrosive, or pyrophoric gases. Always consult the TESCOM 44-3400 Series instruction manual.
Installation Steps (General):
- Safety First: Ensure proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is used. Confirm the gas cylinder is secured and the valve is closed. Vent any residual pressure from lines.
- Compatibility: Verify that the regulator’s materials of construction (316 SS, PTFE, Elgiloy®) are compatible with the specific gas being used.
- Connection:
- Connect the regulator’s inlet (1/4″ NPTF) to the cylinder or upstream high-pressure source, ensuring a tight, leak-free connection.
- Connect the regulator’s outlet (1/4″ NPTF) to the downstream system.
- If gauges are not integrated by the -507 code, install appropriate gauges in the designated gauge ports.
- Leak Testing: After connections, perform a thorough leak check of all connections using an appropriate leak detection solution or a helium leak detector for high-purity systems.
- Pressurization: Slowly open the cylinder valve. The high pressure will enter the regulator’s first stage. Then, gradually adjust the regulator’s main knob to achieve the desired outlet pressure in the second stage.
- Purging (for high purity/hazardous gases): If handling high-purity or hazardous gases, proper purging procedures (e.g., using a purge assembly) are essential to remove air/contaminants from the system before introducing the process gas.
Maintenance (General):
- Regular Leak Checks: Periodically check all connections for leaks.
- Pressure Verification: Monitor inlet and outlet pressures to ensure the regulator is maintaining stable output and that the gauges are accurate.
- Inspect for Damage: Visually inspect the regulator for any signs of corrosion, physical damage, or wear.
- Seat and Diaphragm Inspection/Replacement: If pressure creep (outlet pressure slowly rising when flow stops) or instability occurs, the seat or diaphragm may be worn. These components are replaceable with genuine TESCOM repair kits by qualified personnel.
- Cleaning: If used with reactive gases, internal cleaning may be required. This should only be done by trained professionals or authorized service centers to maintain high-purity standards.
- Recertification: For critical applications, periodic testing and recertification by a qualified service provider are recommended to ensure continued performance and safety.
Product Guarantee
TESCOM (now part of Emerson Automation Solutions) provides new products with a standard manufacturer’s warranty, which typically covers defects in materials and workmanship for a specified period (e.g., 1 year) from the date of purchase.
For the 44-3461S24-507:
- New Purchase: If purchased new from an authorized TESCOM/Emerson distributor, it will come with the full manufacturer’s warranty.
- Aftermarket/Used: If purchased from a surplus dealer or as “new old stock,” the original manufacturer’s warranty may no longer apply. In such cases, the seller may offer their own limited warranty (e.g., 30-day, 1-year), or it may be sold “as-is.” Always confirm the warranty terms with the specific vendor.
