Microbulk Gas

COMMON MICROBULK USE GASES

Microbulk gas systems are used for the efficient storage and distribution of various gases in medium quantities, larger than individual cylinders but smaller than bulk deliveries. Common types of cylinder gases sold in microbulk quantities include:

Oxygen: Widely used in medical facilities, welding, and industrial applications for combustion, oxidation, and other processes.

Nitrogen: Employed in food packaging to preserve freshness, in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and as a blanketing gas to prevent oxidation.

Argon: Commonly used in welding to provide an inert atmosphere, in lighting, and in various industrial processes.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Used in beverage carbonation, as a refrigerant, in fire extinguishers, and for pH control in water treatment.

Helium: Important for scientific research, in medical imaging (like MRI machines), for balloon inflation, and in certain welding applications.

Hydrogen: Used in refineries, chemical production, and increasingly in fuel cells and green energy applications.

Acetylene: Commonly used in welding and cutting due to its high flame temperature.

Specialty Gas Mixtures: These are custom blends used in specific industrial, medical, or research applications, such as calibration gases for instruments.

Medical Gases: Apart from oxygen, other medical gases like nitrous oxide and medical air are also provided in microbulk quantities for healthcare facilities.

The use of microbulk systems helps in reducing the handling of individual cylinders and provides a more continuous, reliable supply of gas.

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE BULK GASES?

Purchasing microbulk gas quantities as opposed to individual cylinders offers several advantages for businesses, especially those with medium to high gas usage. Here are some key reasons why a business might opt for microbulk solutions:

Cost Efficiency: Microbulk systems can reduce the overall cost of gas supply. Bulk purchasing typically offers a lower cost per unit of gas compared to individual cylinders.

Reduced Handling and Storage: Managing numerous individual cylinders requires significant handling, storage space, and inventory management. Microbulk systems streamline this by providing a single, larger container, reducing the physical and administrative burden.

Continuous Supply: Microbulk systems ensure a continuous supply of gas, eliminating the downtime associated with changing out empty cylinders. This can be critical for processes that require an uninterrupted gas supply.

Safety: Handling individual gas cylinders poses safety risks, including potential injuries from moving heavy cylinders and the risk of gas leaks during cylinder changes. Microbulk systems minimize these risks through fewer connections and less frequent handling.

Improved Space Utilization: Microbulk tanks occupy less space compared to the equivalent volume of gas stored in individual cylinders. This is beneficial for businesses with limited space.

Reduced Environmental Impact: Fewer deliveries are required with microbulk systems, which means reduced transportation emissions. Also, there's less waste associated with packaging and cylinder handling.

Quality and Purity Maintenance: Microbulk systems can offer better gas quality and purity retention by reducing the frequency of exposure to air and contaminants that can occur during cylinder changes.

Scalability: As business needs grow, microbulk systems can be more easily scaled compared to cylinder systems. Adding or upgrading microbulk tanks is generally more straightforward than constantly increasing the number of cylinders.

Automated Reordering and Monitoring: Many microbulk systems come with telemetry units that allow for remote monitoring of gas levels and automatic reordering, further reducing administrative tasks and ensuring a consistent supply.

For businesses with a regular and significant demand for gas, these benefits make microbulk systems a more practical and economical solution compared to individual gas cylinders.