Gas Installation,

Components and Control

This topic covers the different kinds
of gas installation systems, and
appliances
 Natural Gas – Combustion

• Natural gas is one of the major combustion fuels used

Properties of natural gas:

• Methane 89„5%
• Ethane 4„5%
• Propane 1„0%
• Pentane 0„5%
• Butane 0„5%
• Nitrogen 3„5%
• Carbon dioxide 0„5%
• Ignition temperature, 700 ƒ C.
 Mains Gas Supply & installation
• In the UK, BG Group Plc (formerly British Gas Plc) supply gas to
communities through a network of mains, installed and maintained by
Lattice Group plc (Transco).
 Gas Service Pipe Intake
• A service pipe is the term given to
the pipe between the gas main and
the primary meter control.
• A polyethylene pipe is used
underground and steel or copper
pipe where it is exposed
• The service pipe should enter the
building on the side facing the gas
main.
• This is to simplify excavations and
to avoid the pipe having to pass
through parts of the substructure
which could be subject to
settlement.
• There are other methods/ways of
installations.
 Installation of Gas Meters

• The gas meter and its associated controls are the

property of the gas authority.

• It should be sited as close as possible to the service

pipe entry to the building,

• There are basically three categories of meter:

Domestic credit
Domestic pre-payment
Industrial credit.
Meter Types
 Gas Controls and Safety features
• A constant pressure governor is fitted at the
meter to regulate pressure into the system.
• It is secured with a lead seal to prevent
unqualified tampering.
• A meter control cock has a tapered plug which
fits into a tapered body.
• The drop-fan safety cock prevents the valve
being turned accidently
Gas Controls
 Gas Ignition Devices
• These are operated usually by mains electricity
 Gas burners
• For correct combustion of natural gas, burner design must
allow for the velocity of the gas-air mixture to be about the
same as the flame velocity.
 Gas Thermostats
• A thermostat is a temperature sensitive
device which operates a gas valve in
response to a pre-determined setting.
–Working thermostat
–High limit thermostat
–rod-type thermostat
–vapour expansion thermostat
 Purging New Installations and Testing

• It is very important that new gas installations are

thoroughly purged of air and debris that may remain in
the completed pipework.

• Testing Gas Installations for Soundness (testing a new

installation & testing an existing system)

• Manometer or U Gauge (this equipment is suitable for

measuring gas installation pressure and testing for
leakage. It is also suitable for air testing drains and
discharge stacks)
 Gas Appliances

There are kinds of gas appliances – use gas as its

source of power for space heating, water
heating, cooking etc.
• Gas fire Appliances
• Gas decorative fuel effect fire
• Gas Appliances – Radiant Tube Heater
• Gas Appliances – Convector Heater
 Balanced Flue Gas Appliances

• It is more efficient than a conventional open flue pipe as there

are less heat losses in and from the flue.
• The balanced flue appliance has the air inlet and flue outlet
sealed from the room in which it is installed.
 Open flue appliances
A gas appliance may be situated in a fire
recess and the chimney structure used
for the flue.
 Flue blocks

Precast Concrete
Flue Blocks
• are manufactured from
high alumina cement and
dense aggregates, to
resist the effects of toxic
flue gases and
condensation
 Flue terminals

Open Flue Terminals

A flue terminal has several
functions:
● to prevent entry of birds,
squirrels, etc.
● to prevent entry of rain
and snow
● to resist the effects of
downdraughts
● to promote flue pull and
extraction of combusted
gases.
 Flue lining
Stainless Steel Flue Lining
• a flexible stainless steel
lining should be
installed to prevent the
combustion products
and condensation from
breaking down the old
mortar joints.
 Shared flues
This is a cost-effective alternative to providing a separate flue for
each gas appliance installed in a multi-storey/multi-unit building.

Shared Flues – Shunt

Shared Flues – Se-duct Shared Flues – U Duct
Duct and Branched Flues
 Fan assisted gas flues
• With high rise shops, office buildings and
flats sharing the same boiler, problems
can arise in providing a flue from ground
floor plant rooms.
• Instead of extending a vertical flue from
ground level to the top of a building, it is
possible to air dilute the flue gases and
discharge them at relatively low level by
installing an extract fan in the flue.
Fan Assisted Balanced Flues
 Ventilation requirements - Gas Appliances
• Vents should be sited where they cannot be
obstructed.
• At high level they should be as close as possible to
the ceiling and at low level, not more than 450 mm
above floor level.
• When installed between internal walls, vents should
be as low as possible to reduce the spread of smoke
in the event of a fire.
• There are calculations regarding Ventilation for Gas
Appliances
• Ventilation for Gas Appliances - air supply is integral
with the terminal
 QUESTIONS

• Discuss the delivery/gas supply and the intake of

gas supply?
• Discuss the purging and testing of gas installation
systems?
• Discuss the gas controls and safety features?
• Discuss the flue gas systems, gas burners, gas
ignition devices, and appliances?