regulatoren

Regulatoren is a term used in several languages for devices or bodies that exercise control over variables. In engineering, a regulator maintains a process variable within a desired range by continuously comparing a measured value to a reference and applying a corrective action. In governance, the term also describes authorities that create and enforce rules to protect safety, health, the environment, or market fairness.

In engineering practice, regulators are usually closed-loop control systems consisting of a sensor, a controller, and an actuator. The sensor measures the process variable; the controller determines the required adjustment; the actuator implements the change. Control schemes can range from simple on-off regulators to continuous controllers using proportional, integral, and derivative actions, or more advanced digital control.

Common types include temperature regulators (thermostats), pressure regulators, voltage regulators, and flow regulators. Examples: a home thermostat keeps indoor temperature near the setpoint; a gas-cylinder regulator limits outlet pressure; a computer power supply uses a voltage regulator to hold stable DC output. In industry, regulators are used to maintain flow rates, pressures, temperatures, and other process variables.

In the regulatory-sense, authorities such as government agencies set standards and supervise compliance to safety, environmental, antitrust, or financial rules. They issue licenses, publish regulations, monitor activities, and impose penalties for violations. The term is therefore used for both technical devices and administrative bodies, depending on context.