Why is proper gas distribution important for optimizing laboratory operations
Time：2023-05-06
Imagine yourself as a lab technician. When you perform the intended test or analysis, you get close to the point of use for a particular gas. You activate a mechanism to get the gas you need, but the flow and pressure are lower than expected.
This is a problem for a number of reasons:
The accuracy of the tests you are performing is not necessarily reliable and you may not be able to move forward at all.
Troubleshooting to get to the root of the problem takes time and money, and it's hard to say how much time.
If a leak causes these flow problems, there may also be associated safety issues, so this is a top priority to address.
No matter where your lab is located (inside a research facility, chemical refinery, or other industrial plant), these ripple consequences can have a significant impact on local operations. They also demonstrate the importance of consistent and reliable gas delivery to critical points of use.
Laboratory staff and management have many important priorities on a given day, and gas distribution may rarely be at the top of the list. However, a well-designed gas distribution system can play an important role in the continuous consistency, accuracy, productivity and safety required in any laboratory environment. Here are a few reasons:
All gases pose potential risks
Some gases pose a greater potential risk than others. Toxic or toxic gases (such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen chloride) pose an immediate risk to laboratory safety in the event of a leak. Direct exposure to any of these gases is very dangerous and should be explicitly avoided.
However, it is important to remember that all gases have the potential to pose a safety risk if they escape from your distribution system. For example, if enough oxygen or hydrogen enters your laboratory or factory atmosphere, they can become highly flammable. Nitrogen escaping from the system displaces oxygen levels in the atmosphere, creating a potentially hazardous environment in an enclosed space. Heavier gases such as propane and butane can fall into and collect inside lower level cavities and housings, creating an explosion risk.
Because gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are not always handled with the same care as toxic gases, LABS can experience small leaks without operators even realizing they are occurring. This poses a security risk in the first place. But the gas that escapes is also a wasted gas that can come at a significant monetary cost.
How do you ensure that all gases are handled with the appropriate level of care in your facility? Professional assessment is an effective way to identify unknown leaks and discover distribution system design strategies that help maximize safety.
Pressure and flow: Critical to your productivity
While not always indicative of a safety hazard, improper laboratory gas pressure and flow levels can affect your ability to perform laboratory tasks as efficiently and accurately as possible. For example, lower pressure and flow levels may limit the number of tests you are able to complete in a given time frame. They may also impair the function of the test equipment.
Often, sub-optimal pressure and flow levels result from inefficient system design. A classic example is system overdesign, which includes too many valves or regulators to throttle the pressure from the source to the point of use. The air and sound distribution system is designed with as few valves and regulators as possible to meet the needs of the user at the point of use. Remember, in all cases, "more" is not the same as "better."
In the case of over-design, it is also common to offset the cost of additional valves or regulators by choosing a smaller gas delivery line. The combination of additional valves and smaller lines can severely limit the maximum available pressure and flow at the point of use, thus limiting laboratory test efficiency. In addition, pre-selecting a smaller line will limit the maximum flow of your system, which can cause problems if your needs change.
Again, professional assessment can be beneficial here. A gas distribution expert can help identify where you need to improve your design and help you achieve the required point-of-use requirements without artificially limiting pressure and flow in case you need higher levels in the future.
Interested in learning more about how to enhance your system or how professional assessment can benefit your lab? Connect with our gas distribution experts to discuss your challenges and gain insight into how to build a reliable gas delivery system.
This is a problem for a number of reasons:
The accuracy of the tests you are performing is not necessarily reliable and you may not be able to move forward at all.
Troubleshooting to get to the root of the problem takes time and money, and it's hard to say how much time.
If a leak causes these flow problems, there may also be associated safety issues, so this is a top priority to address.
No matter where your lab is located (inside a research facility, chemical refinery, or other industrial plant), these ripple consequences can have a significant impact on local operations. They also demonstrate the importance of consistent and reliable gas delivery to critical points of use.
Laboratory staff and management have many important priorities on a given day, and gas distribution may rarely be at the top of the list. However, a well-designed gas distribution system can play an important role in the continuous consistency, accuracy, productivity and safety required in any laboratory environment. Here are a few reasons:
All gases pose potential risks
Some gases pose a greater potential risk than others. Toxic or toxic gases (such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen chloride) pose an immediate risk to laboratory safety in the event of a leak. Direct exposure to any of these gases is very dangerous and should be explicitly avoided.
However, it is important to remember that all gases have the potential to pose a safety risk if they escape from your distribution system. For example, if enough oxygen or hydrogen enters your laboratory or factory atmosphere, they can become highly flammable. Nitrogen escaping from the system displaces oxygen levels in the atmosphere, creating a potentially hazardous environment in an enclosed space. Heavier gases such as propane and butane can fall into and collect inside lower level cavities and housings, creating an explosion risk.
Because gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are not always handled with the same care as toxic gases, LABS can experience small leaks without operators even realizing they are occurring. This poses a security risk in the first place. But the gas that escapes is also a wasted gas that can come at a significant monetary cost.
How do you ensure that all gases are handled with the appropriate level of care in your facility? Professional assessment is an effective way to identify unknown leaks and discover distribution system design strategies that help maximize safety.
Pressure and flow: Critical to your productivity
While not always indicative of a safety hazard, improper laboratory gas pressure and flow levels can affect your ability to perform laboratory tasks as efficiently and accurately as possible. For example, lower pressure and flow levels may limit the number of tests you are able to complete in a given time frame. They may also impair the function of the test equipment.
Often, sub-optimal pressure and flow levels result from inefficient system design. A classic example is system overdesign, which includes too many valves or regulators to throttle the pressure from the source to the point of use. The air and sound distribution system is designed with as few valves and regulators as possible to meet the needs of the user at the point of use. Remember, in all cases, "more" is not the same as "better."
In the case of over-design, it is also common to offset the cost of additional valves or regulators by choosing a smaller gas delivery line. The combination of additional valves and smaller lines can severely limit the maximum available pressure and flow at the point of use, thus limiting laboratory test efficiency. In addition, pre-selecting a smaller line will limit the maximum flow of your system, which can cause problems if your needs change.
Again, professional assessment can be beneficial here. A gas distribution expert can help identify where you need to improve your design and help you achieve the required point-of-use requirements without artificially limiting pressure and flow in case you need higher levels in the future.
Interested in learning more about how to enhance your system or how professional assessment can benefit your lab? Connect with our gas distribution experts to discuss your challenges and gain insight into how to build a reliable gas delivery system.