Why do valves and regulators freeze?

There’s a phenomenon called the Joule-Thomson (or JT) effect that causes the temperature of a gas to drop when its pressure is reduced in a valve or regulator. Low ambient temperatures increase the risk of freezing, but the driving factor is usually a combination of a high pressure cut and water content in the gas. Every 100 psi of pressure drop causes natural gas to lose 6-8° F, so even in very warm weather frozen equipment can still be a problem. The JT effect is happening inside the valve, so in a lot of cases insulation jackets can make the problem worse.

You can learn about Catco’s solutions for preventing freezing in valves and regulators here. Or you can contact us and we’ll be happy to help.