{"id":202,"date":"2013-07-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/equilibar.183-2.purplecat.net\/?page_id=202"},"modified":"2025-10-31T16:36:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:36:36","slug":"bpr-definition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/fr\/back-pressure-regulators\/how-it-works\/bpr-definition\/","title":{"rendered":"Definition of Back Pressure Regulator"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"grid\"><div class=\"c-one-half \"> <p>What is the definition of a back pressure regulator? A Back Pressure Regulator (BPR) is a device that maintains a defined pressure upstream of its own inlet. When fluid pressure in the process at the inlet of the BPR exceeds the setpoint, the regulator opens to relieve the excess pressure.<\/p> <p> <a href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/\">Back Pressure Regulators<\/a> work similarly to relief valves but in the case of the BPR, the emphasis is on steady state pressure control instead of on\/off actuation. The BPR continually adjuts its position to keep the inlet pressure at the desired setpoint. They are used to control gas, liquid, mixed-phase and supercritical fluids.<\/p> <h5>Difference between Pressure Regulator and Back Pressure Regulator<\/h5> <p>Pressure regulators or pressure reducing regulators reduce a higher supply pressure down to a regulated lower pressure at the outlet, maintaining a desired <em>downstream pressure.<\/em>\u00a0Back pressure regulators work the opposite way. They regulate the pressure at the inlet by opening up only as much as necessary to maintain the desired <em>upstream pressure.<\/em><\/p> <p><center><\/center><\/p> <div class=\"table-wrapper\"><table class=\"simple\" width=\"300\"> <thead> <tr> <th><strong>Type<\/strong><\/th> <th width=\"120\"><strong>Pressure Reducing Regulator<\/strong><\/th> <th><strong>Back Pressure Regulator<\/strong><\/th> <\/tr> <\/thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Schematic<\/strong><\/td> <td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/images\/FPR.gif\" alt=\"Pressure reducing regulator schematic\" \/><\/td> <td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/images\/BPRspring.gif\" alt=\"back pressure regulator schematic\" \/><\/td> <\/tr> <tr> <td><strong>Simple Design<\/strong><\/td> <td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"\/images\/PRR.gif\" alt=\"How a pressure reducing regulator works schematic\" width=\"91\" height=\"97\" \/><\/td> <td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"\/images\/schematic-back-pressure-valve.gif\" alt=\"how a back pressure regulator works schematic\" width=\"100\" height=\"102\" \/><\/td> <\/tr> <tr> <td><strong>Controls Pressure<\/strong><\/td> <td>Downstream<\/td> <td>Upstream<\/td> <\/tr> <tr> <td><strong>Opens to:<\/strong><\/td> <td>Increase pressure downstream<\/td> <td>Decrease pressure upstream<\/td> <\/tr> <tr> <td><strong>Closes to:<\/strong><\/td> <td>Decrease pressure downstream<\/td> <td>Increase pressure upstream<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table><\/div> <\/p> <\/div><div class=\"c-one-half \"> <div id=\"attachment_5656\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5656\" class=\"wp-image-5656 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1970\/01\/MG_6694-web-e1452197954201.jpg\" alt=\"GS Series Back Pressure Regulator\" width=\"300\" height=\"301\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5656\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Equilibar back pressure regulators are dome-loaded to provide improved performance.<\/p><\/div> <p><a id=\"button-counter-1\" class=\"button medium type-simple\" href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/back-pressure-regulators\/\" >Learn More<\/a> <a id=\"button-counter-2\" class=\"button medium type-simple\" href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/contact\" >Contact an Engineer<\/a><\/p> <p>A Back pressure valve or regulator is often used in:<\/p> <ul> <li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/application\/pump-pressure-sustaining-valve\/\">recirculating loops<\/a> <\/li> <li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/application\/reactor-pressure-control\/\">chemical reactors<\/a> <\/li> <li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/application\/fuel-cells\/\">fuel cell testing<\/a> <\/li> <li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/flow-control-valves\/\">flow control<\/a> <\/li> <li> <a href=\"\/vacuum-regulators\/high-precision-vacuum-regulators\/\">vacuum control\u00a0<\/a> <\/li> <\/ul> <p style=\"text-align: left;\"> <a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/applications-category\/\">Other applications<\/a> <br \/> <\/div><\/div><div class=\"divider type-simple\"><\/div><\/p> <h4>Back Pressure Valves (Regulators) from Equilibar:<\/h4> <p><div class=\"product-include bpr-squares\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"grid\"><div class=\"c-one-fourth \"><span id=\"frame-counter-1\" class=\"frame type-simple aligncenter\">\n\t<span class=\"decorator\">\n\t\t<span class=\"outer\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/research-back-pressure-regulator_2201-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"research series back pressure regulator\" \/>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/back-pressure-regulators\/research-back-pressure-regulators\/\">Research Series\r\nBack Pressure Regulators<\/a>\r\n1\/16\" to 1\/4\"\r\n\r\nup to 10,000 psig \/ 690 bar(g)\r\n\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"indicator indicator-document\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/span>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"c-one-fourth \"><span id=\"frame-counter-2\" class=\"frame type-simple aligncenter\">\n\t<span class=\"decorator\">\n\t\t<span class=\"outer\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/back-pressure-regulator1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"general service back pressure regulator GS series\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/back-pressure-regulators\/general-service-back-pressure-regulators\/\">General Service\r\nBack Pressure Regulators<\/a>\r\n1\/4\" to 1\"\r\n\r\nup to 2500 psig \/ 172 bar(g)\r\n\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"indicator indicator-document\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/span>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"c-one-fourth \"><span id=\"frame-counter-3\" class=\"frame type-simple aligncenter\">\n\t<span class=\"decorator\">\n\t\t<span class=\"outer\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/back-pressure-valve-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"industrial service back pressure valve BD series\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/back-pressure-regulators\/back-pressure-valve\/bd-series-back-pressure-valves\/\">Industrial Service\r\nBack Pressure Valves<\/a>\r\n1.5\" to 4\"\r\n\r\nup to 150 psig \/ 10 bar(g)\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"indicator indicator-document\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/span><\/div><div class=\"c-one-fourth \"><span id=\"frame-counter-4\" class=\"frame type-simple aligncenter\">\n\t<span class=\"decorator\">\n\t\t<span class=\"outer\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-40043\" src=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GSDM8-with-pilot-straightened-for-web-include-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Equilibar GSDM8 with electronic pilot\" width=\"185\" height=\"185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GSDM8-with-pilot-straightened-for-web-include-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GSDM8-with-pilot-straightened-for-web-include-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GSDM8-with-pilot-straightened-for-web-include-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GSDM8-with-pilot-straightened-for-web-include-47x47.jpg 47w, https:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GSDM8-with-pilot-straightened-for-web-include.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 185px) 100vw, 185px\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.equilibar.com\/back-pressure-regulators\/electronic-back-pressure-regulators\/\">Electronic\r\nBack Pressure Regulators<\/a>\r\n1\/4\" to 4\"\r\n\r\nup to 5000 psig \/ 344 bar(g)\r\n\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"indicator indicator-document\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><div class=\"grid\"><div class=\"c-two-third \"> <h4>Back Pressure Valves and other terms<\/h4> <p>The term back pressure regulator can be used interchangeably with the term <a title=\"Back Pressure Valves\" href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/back-pressure-valve\/\">back pressure valve<\/a>, though the term &#8220;valve&#8221; sometimes infers a different control mechanism. In larger industrial applications, for example, traditional flow control valves are typically used to regulate pressure and other variables.<\/p> <p>Back pressure valves and regulators are also similar to pressure relief valves in that both control their inlet pressure. However, the purpose for a pressure relief valves is to control an inadvertent pressure excursion, not for steady state flow control.<\/p> <p>BPR&#8217;s are also sometimes referred to as pressure sustaining regulators or <a title=\"Pump Pressure Sustaining Valves\" href=\"\/application\/pump-pressure-sustaining-valve\/\">pressure sustaining valves<\/a>, especially where used downstream of a pump to maintain pressure.<\/p> <h4>Precision Back Pressure Regulation<\/h4> <p>Equilibar has developed a unique technology which provides extremely high pressure stability across widely varying flow rates and process conditions. Learn more about our <a href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/\">dome-loaded back pressure regulators<\/a> and <a href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/how-it-works\/\">how they work<\/a>.<\/p> <h4>Can the Equilibar\u00ae back pressure regulator be substituted for a pressure reducing\u00a0regulator?<\/h4> <p>Some applications can be modified to accept back pressure regulator. Why would you do this? If you need extremely high precision in the low pressure range, or the convenience of accurately controlling a pressure from a remote computer signal, it may be worthwhile to determine if the Equilibar\u00ae back pressure regulator can still meet your needs.<\/p> <ul> <li>Can you recirculate excess fluid back to an upstream vessel (i.e. a recirculating pump)?<\/li> <li>Are you working with a low flow rate of air, water, or other fluid where an excess quantity can be economically exhausted or recycled?<\/li> <\/ul> <p>If the answer to either of these is yes or maybe, feel free to contact one of Equilibar&#8217;s <a href=\"\/contact\/\">application engineers<\/a> for a free consultation about your unique requirements. We will help you determine if a back pressure regulator is applicable for your application. If we can&#8217;t help you, we will recommend other products that will.<\/p> <p>The schematic at right is an example of the Equilbar\u00ae being in place of a standard regulator to supply ultra-precise low-pressure flow control. The variable flowmeter supplies constant flow to the Equilibar\u00ae, which then exhausts only the portion not needed by the downstream process. For liquid or rare gas applications, the exhaust could be replaced by a recirculation pump to recover the excess flow.<\/p> <p>Learn more about Equilibar&#8217;s <a href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/\">unique high precision back pressure regulators<\/a>.<\/p> <p> <a href=\"\/contact\/\">Contact our engineers<\/a> to discuss your unique application.<\/p> <\/div><div class=\"c-one-third \"> <div> <a href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/how-it-works\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"\/images\/how-Equilibar-back-pressure-regulator-works.gif\" alt=\"How the Equilibar back pressure regulator works\" width=\"242\" height=\"186\" \/><\/a> The <a title=\"How the Equilibar Back Pressure Regulator Works\" href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/how-it-works\/\">Equilibar backpressure regulator<\/a> uses a unique design to produce unmatched precision across widely varying flow rates and process conditions<\/div> <div><\/div> <p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/images\/Performance-Comparison-2013-340.jpg\" alt=\"Equilibar performance comparison chart\" width=\"250\" \/><\/p> <div>Comparison of <a href=\"\/back-pressure-regulators\/\">Equilibar<\/a> versus traditional back pressure regulators<\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/p> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back Pressure Valves (Regulators) from Equilibar:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":200,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-sidebar-left.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-202","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","btp_relation_tag-s-techarticle"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Definition of Back Pressure Regulator | Equilibar Precision Pressure<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the 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