Volume pump vs pressure regulator

[Tux]

Both can be used for specific purposes
but both can also be used to move gas around.

which is faster?

[Khaylain]

AFAIK the volume pump is massively more powerful at moving gas. The pressure regulator stops moving gas when the output line is at a specific pressure (so you can avoid bursting it). The volume pump doesn't stop by itself ( but you can use logic chips or IC10 to do it)

[Tux]

Originally posted by Khaylain:

AFAIK the volume pump is massively more powerful at moving gas. The pressure regulator stops moving gas when the output line is at a specific pressure (so you can avoid bursting it). The volume pump doesn't stop by itself ( but you can use logic chips or IC10 to do it)

good point.
so my approach turns out more to be right by accident.
I have pressure regulators for the canisters because I know the pressure limit.
I use volume pumps to move gas around more quickly because to be honest 'volume pump' is something I can understand better.
turns out I was doing it right for other reasons :)

[G-Man]

Volume pumps are the way to go for moving mols. Pressure regulators work off the pressure differential now, so they're next to useless on their own. I basically treat them like "smart" one-way valves.

That being said, regulators are even more useful now since when there is a large pressure differential they are very fast. They work best when combined with some other kind of pump like a volume pump or an active vent. One solution to volume pumps bursting pipes is to attach a back pressure regulator from the output of the pump back to the input. The back pressure regulator will keep the pipe from bursting while the volume pump does the heavy lifting.

I also like to use a pressure regulator + back pressure regulator pair as a buffer for my airlock. When the airlock active vent is facing inwards it pressurizes the input of the back pressure regulator which fills the buffer. When the active vent is facing outwards it depressurizes the output of the pressure regulator and lets gas flow out of the buffer. This makes a quick airlock without any logic or adding more vents.

Stuff like this used to be a lot harder when pressure regulators worked at a fixed speed. Pumps, vents, and regulators all have their own niches and you need to combine them to be effective.

[CPT Chthonbeard the Pirate]

Originally posted by G-Man:

Volume pumps are the way to go for moving mols. Pressure regulators work off the pressure differential now, so they're next to useless on their own. I basically treat them like "smart" one-way valves.

That being said, regulators are even more useful now since when there is a large pressure differential they are very fast. They work best when combined with some other kind of pump like a volume pump or an active vent. One solution to volume pumps bursting pipes is to attach a back pressure regulator from the output of the pump back to the input. The back pressure regulator will keep the pipe from bursting while the volume pump does the heavy lifting.

I also like to use a pressure regulator + back pressure regulator pair as a buffer for my airlock. When the airlock active vent is facing inwards it pressurizes the input of the back pressure regulator which fills the buffer. When the active vent is facing outwards it depressurizes the output of the pressure regulator and lets gas flow out of the buffer. This makes a quick airlock without any logic or adding more vents.

Stuff like this used to be a lot harder when pressure regulators worked at a fixed speed. Pumps, vents, and regulators all have their own niches and you need to combine them to be effective.

I'm going to steal this and try it. If I figure out what you mean, thanks :)