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Airgas Exec Says Argon Shortage and Praxair Exec Says Helium
Shortage - Will Continue!!
He
Our Patented Products Can Cut Your Shielding Gas Use in Half
While Improving Weld Quality By Eliminating Waste.
If Using Argon or Helium Shielding Gas, They Are a Smart Choice!
Even Carbon Dioxide Prices Have Increased and Our Patented Gas Saver System Improves Weld Start Quality.
Download a
PDF, "Why High Gas Cost?" Includes a way to fix it!
See Video: Rising
Shielding Gas Prices |
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This is what the Airgas CEO (at the time) had to say about Argon, when announcing a 15% increase for November 2014 on top of a 25% increase announced for July 1, 2014.
"In recent years, there has been limited investment in new argon capacity in the U.S., and overall argon production has not been keeping pace with demand at a time when increasing activity in energy and infrastructure construction is driving up demand for the product. As a result, our costs to secure and distribute argon from where we receive it to where it is needed by our customers are increasing,” said Airgas Chief Executive Officer Michael L. Molinini. “We continue to invest in production capacity and infrastructure to serve our customers as efficiently as possible and further ensure the reliability of our supply chain, but increasing demand for argon is likely to result in continued pressure on product and distribution costs for the foreseeable future.” |
 One
of the leading producers and marketers of industrial gases, Air Products, purchased over 200 of
our patented Gas Saver Systems (GSS)
to save gas! They use an Argon Helium gas mixture to weld aluminum in
the manufacture of cryogenic tanks. They found the
GSS
custom extruded hose also had a significant
additional benefit because of it's unique design. It has much less
moisture permeability! Result - no
hydrogen
related problems due to moisture in humid weather! Want more details?
Email
Jerry_Uttrachi@NetWelding.com |
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At
an annual convention of the industrial gas distributors and producers,
Ricardo Malfitano, Praxair Executive Vice President, (Note Praxir was purchsed by Linde AG from Germany) 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! It is also
generated by radioactive decay, as occurs in some of the elements in
granite for example. This radioactive decay source causes a small amount of Helium
to be mixed in some natural gas deposits. The Helium purchased is obtained as a
byproduct in natural gas production sites where it is available in
quantities to be economically extracted. 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 designed and 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 Flowmeter Calibrated for 75% Argon/ 25%
CO2 (or Argon) 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 designed to read accurately near the pipeline
pressure. The one in the photo above is designed and calibrated at 50 psi, but it is also expensive. We have seen
many fabricators use less expensive flowmeters designed to read accurately
at 25 psi. When reading 35 CFH on a flowmeter designed to read
accurately at 25 psi while connected to a 50 psi pipeline your actually
flowing 45 CFH! These devices can not be recalibrated, it is the
size of the taper in the flow tube that defines what pressure where they
will operate accurately.
Now if your using a flowmeter
designed to operate 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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 PATENTED 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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