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Praxair Exec Says Helium
Shortage Will Continue
Our
Patented Products Can Cut Your Shielding Gas Use in Half While Improving
Weld Quality By Eliminating Waste! |
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At
a recent annual convention of the industrial gas distributors and producers,
Ricardo Malfitano, Praxair Executive Vice President, defined reasons for
shortages in Argon and Helium in North America. He stated the top three
suppliers of Helium had 77% of the market, all with similar shares. He also
told those in attendance not to expect much relief in the current Worldwide
shortage of this very limited supply gas! |
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HELIUM WAS CREATED IN THE BIG BANG
Unlike Argon which is ~ 0.9% of the air, Helium is a limited world wide
resource. Most of the Helium in the "Universe" was created during the "Big
Bang" with a small amount generated in stars! Helium is
obtained as a byproduct in a limited number of natural gas production sites. Why not extract it from the air where
all that is used ultimately goes? Because it is so light it escapes the
earth’s atmosphere and goes into outer space!
Shortages and allocation are
predicted to continue. If you’re using any amount of Helium for welding the
payback for our shielding gas saving products fits a
“Just Do It” scenario! Payback for our
Gas Saver System (GSS)
or our Flow Rate Limiter
can be measured in weeks. One large aluminum fabricator with 93 MIG
welders uses an Argon Helium shielding gas mixture and reports a 40% savings
just by replacing their gas delivery hose with our Gas Saver System .
Click this link for purchase details. |
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 CONTROL
FLOW RATES
If you’re utilizing Helium gas mixtures, be
sure you're using the proper flow meter. If it is not calibrated for Helium
gas or high Helium gas mixtures you're reading a flow rate far lower than
your using. For example the flowmeter at left has a square flow tube
calibrated for different gases on each of the four sides. The following table shows what this
flowmeter has on two of its flow scales. Look at the comparison!
That’s correct. If you’re using a
flowmeter calibrated for a 75% Argon / 25% CO2 gas mixture and
reading 30 CFH your actually flowing 80 CFH of Helium or a high percentage
Helium mixture!!
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If
The Reading On A 75% Argon/ 25%
CO2 Flow Gauge Is: |
You're Actually Flowing
Helium At A Rate Of: |
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15 CFH |
35 CFH |
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20 CFH |
50 CFH |
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30 CFH |
80 CFH |
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35 CFH |
100 CFH |
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40 CFH |
120 CFH |
 If you have drafts then use a small
windbreak! It’s far less expensive than excess flow rates! You’ll never
counter significant drafts with higher flows of Helium! The flows will get
sufficiently high that you’ll pull air into a turbulent gas stream making
the shielding situation worse! A small sheet metal wind deflector
works winders. |
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One other factor to consider; if you’re on
bulk gas and using a flowmeter, be sure it is calibrated near the pipeline
pressure. The one in the photo above is calibrated at 50 psi, but it is also expensive. We have seen
many fabricators use less expensive flowmeters calibrated at 25 psi. When
reading 35 CFH on a 25 psi calibrated flowmeter while connected to a 50 psi
pipeline your actually flowing 45 CFH!
Now if your using a flowmeter
calibrated at 25 psi for 75% Argon/ 25% CO2
on a 50 psi pipeline and using Helium gas; when your reading 30 CFH your
actually flowing 80 CFH (from above table) X 1.28 (compensating for pressure error) = 102 CFH!! |
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ASSUMING THE PROPER FLOW
Assuming you have set the desired flow
and are reading it accurately, we offer two products that can save 50% more shielding gas!
Our patented Gas Saver System
(GSS, See
Overview) will reduce the gas surge at the weld start and give
improved weld start quality. A fabricator using Helium based gases
welding heavy aluminum structures tested our Gas Saver System. They found a 40%
shielding gas savings just by replacing their gas delivery hose. The
GSS also limited the peak surge flow (which
we measured at over 300 CFH with their normal gas hose!) and improved their weld start quality. After their tests
were completed they purchased 93
systems. Check out this
fabricators test data.
 If
you’re using a spool gun with a gas valve in the torch we can save even
more. When you start welding all the excess shielding gas in the hose from
the gas source to your spool gun exists very rapidly. We have measured
very high peak
gas flows in these instances! We even have a special
fitting that fits some popular spool guns, making installation of a
GSS very neat. Check out this
fabricators example. |
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 PATENT
PENDING FLOW RATE LIMITER AND LOCK
If you’re using the flowmeter and reading
accurately we can still help with our Flow Rate Limiter and Lock
(WAT-FRLL). Unfortunately welders often mistakenly believe that;
"If some gas is good, more must be better!" This
not only wastes gas but pulls air into the turbulent gas stream high flow
creates! You can simply place out WAT-FRLL over the flow control knob
and lock in the flow setting! It fits most flowgauges.
An emergency vehicle manufacturer welds heavy aluminum and uses
both Argon and Helium based shielding gases. They have installed our WAT-FRLL’s on
all their welders. Also check
out this testimonial regarding this simple to apply product. Texas
Hydraulics
saved 35% by installing these on all welders.
With Helium shielding gases these products
have a payback measured in a few weeks! |
Purchase
Gas Saving
Products
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Purchase Flow Rate Limiter |
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