Pressure regulating modules with controlled leak paths

A pressure regulating module comprising:

• a) a housing including a fluid inlet, a control fluid outlet, a reference fluid port, and at least a portion of the housing having an inner circumferential surface defining an axially extending cylinder bore, said cylinder bore being fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet on a first side of the housing and fluidly coupled to the reference fluid port on a second side of the housing;
• b) a pressure transfer assembly including a piston linked to a restricting element that controls flow of fluid from the fluid inlet to the control fluid outlet, said piston slidably disposed within the cylinder bore, said piston comprising a main body having a first face in communication with a control fluid chamber, a second face in communication with a reference fluid chamber, and a cylindrical outer side wall;
• said piston dimensioned to provide a predefined radial clearance between at least a portion of said outer side wall and said inner circumferential surface of the housing along a predefined axial length of said main body;
• and
• c) a fluid leak orifice extending from said inner circumferential surface of said housing to an exterior surface of said housing between said reference fluid chamber and said control fluid chamber;
• wherein said predefined radial clearance and predefined axial length are dimensioned to control the flow rate of fluid along a fluid communication passage formed between at least a portion of said piston and said inner circumferential surface from a high pressure fluid zone to a lower pressure fluid zone.