Is It The End For High-Pressure Gas Cylinders?

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 24, 2009 – Despite this, increasing numbers of users are choosing to supply their GC-FID, LC-MS and other instruments with gas using an analytical gas generator. Driving this decision will be a combination of factors, including safety, cost, convenience and purity.  

High pressure gas generators can provoke safety concerns in a number of ways and different scenarios – some with potentially fatal consequences. The presence of high pressure gas cylinders in the laboratory has been likened to sharing the laboratory with a potential missile. This stems from the behaviour of a cylinder that suddenly depressurises. There is enough force released with a European ‘L’ Sized cylinder to accelerate the cylinder to something like 108km/h in approximately 10 seconds. It is because of this potential ‘missile scenario’ that cylinders tend to be strapped down to something fixed.

Even if they’re restrained should a large cylinder suddenly vent its content into the laboratory then there are potentially fatal consequences provided it’s not an air cylinder. If a high pressure nitrogen generation cylinder suddenly vented to the atmosphere of the laboratory more than 9000 L of unbreathable gas would be released. This would dramatically reduce the oxygen content of the air – presenting the possibility of asphyxiation.

Analytical Gas Generators can remove the requirement for high-pressure gas cylinders for many analytical gas instrument users. They are typically placed next to the instrument they’re servicing, removing any need for extended gas lines and with them, associated problems affecting purity, cost and convenience. There are inherent features both in design and the way in which gas generators operate that mean they offer clear reasons to switch from high-pressure gas cylinders.  

High-pressure gas cylinders will contain gas at a pressure of approximately 200-300 times atmospheric pressure, and gas that is released to atmospheric pressure would have a volume in the region of 9000 Litres. Analytical gas generators operate at a fraction of this pressure and have very low volumes of stored gas within them. A leading hydrogen generator will have just 50Ml of stored gas, which will be at a maximum of around four times atmospheric pressure, removing the missile concern and increasing overall safety.

In addition to this Analytical gas generators only require simple, quick maintenance, which can be planned for, and they don’t unexpectedly run-out of gas halfway through analysis.  This saves potenial downtime and makes Parker’s gas generation systems far more productive than other cylinders.

Overall Analytical Gas Generators provide a constant source of gas, with increased purity, efficiency and safety.  This is a further illustration of Parker Hannifin’s commitment to the development of innovative gas generation technologies.  They also provide a range of hydrogen gas generation and filtration technology products.

Parker are the world leaders in providing a range of technologies, such as climate control, electomechanical solutions, filtration, fluid handling and gas generation.  As a global brand Parker prides itself on offering complete solutions for motion and control technologies for a wide range of industry applications, such as agriculture, chemical processing, packaging equipment, aerospace and alternative energy uses.

About Parker Hannifin: With annual sales exceeding $12 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets, involving climate control, electomechanical solutions, filtration, fluid handling and gas generation. The company employs more than 61,000 people in 43 countries around the world.

Editor’s Notes:  Parker Hannifin is represented by search engine optimisation agency, Top Position. Please direct all press queries to Gareth Vipers. Email: gareth@topposition.co.uk or call: 01623 726 234.