rus
In practice the quality of a bridge and cutting speed depends on the quality and purity of auxiliary technological gases: nitrogen and oxygen. The article emphasizes the importance of pure auxiliary gases application for laser cutting.
This article draws the attention of a consumer to the importance of use of pure auxiliary gases for laser cutting – nitrogen and oxygen – and ensuring their purity and quality at all stages, from the production at the "AIR LIQUIDE" plants to the point in a shop.
Anyone who practices laser cutting on a daily basis knows well that the quality of an edge and speed of cutting, and, therefore, the machine productivity, depends on the quality and purity of auxiliary technological gases: nitrogen and oxygen.
An indispensable condition of implementation of advantages of pure gases for laser cutting is a preservation of high and stable quality from the place of production to the point of use. Thus, it is not enough just to observe the requirements of GOST and/or TS at the production, it is also important to keep and deliver gas of initial quality to the laser cutting machine, namely, to provide its standard quantity in a container, its required purity and composition of critical impurities.
AIR LIQUIDE offer
for laser technologies
The basis of the AIR LIQUIDE offer is presented by the gas products which are specially developed for laser technologies (table), services, specialized containers – cylinders and monoblocks of the increased capacity for the compressed gases, or the cryogenic capacities for the liquefied gases, as well as the process support by the experts "AIR LIQUIDE" of our customers.
New "AIR LIQUIDE" cylinders
"What can be new and special in a cylinder?" the question which the production workers could probably ask. Partly they will be right since the designs of all standard cylinders are very similar in general.
However, the specialists of AIR LIQUIDE introduced a number of the major completions in the design of gas cylinders with improved container ergonomics, facilitating the operation of a cylinder, providing the quality of gas, increasing its quantity, thus, optimizing logistics.
Let’s list these important changes:
increased cylinder volume (50 liters, fig.1) in comparison with a standard cylinder of a domestic production (40 liters);
increased pressure of gas in the AIR LIQUIDE cylinder – 200–300 kgf/cm 2, instead of 150 kgf/cm 2 in the cylinders of a domestic production;
decreased cylinder weight due to the use of high-strength steel;
use of special SMARTOPTM valves with the built-in back pressure valve;
strong protective caps for protection of the valve and convenience of manual movement of a cylinder in a working zone (fig.2).
The factory technology "AIR LIQUIDE" for the automated filling of gases provides stability of process and excludes ingress of gases in the cylinders and monoblocks from the outside and the violation of quality set out in the specification of LASALTM gases. These features allow guaranteeing the stability of quality of gases for each delivery, and save time of the operators when setting up the machine for cutting process after replacement of a cylinder or a monoblock.
The use of the specialized marked container series for gases of the increased purity LASALTM provides additional guarantee of control of purity and composition of gas. When the cutting modes are optimally selected, the cutting speed with oxygen LASALTM 2003 (purity of 99,95%) is 15–25% higher for various materials in comparison with the usual industrial oxygen (purity of 99,5%). Thus, the specific consumption of gas and other specific expenses and costs per running meter of a cut is lower for purer oxygen even at a considerable difference in the gas price. Expensive gas makes cutting cheaper!!!
Despite the fact that a gas cylinder of LASALTM family has obviously bigger internal volume, due to special steel, it was practically not reflected in the dimensions of the cylinder. When assembled, it is higher than the cylinders of a domestic production only by a height of a protective cap. The protective cap is supplied with the special ergonomic "mushroom" on top developed for convenient grip, thus allowing you to roll a cylinder in a working zone safely and without big efforts, if needed.
The combination of larger volume (50 l) and increased pressure (200–300 kgf/cm 2) allowed providing a volume of gas of the cylinder almost 2–3 times more.
In practice, it allows you to reduce the amount of cylinders almost by half and to save warehouse spaces, and also to reduce transportation costs considerably for delivery of necessary amount of gas and to reduce time and costs of work with cylinders.
The use of modern materials in combination with modified design of a cylinder allowed making the cylinder AIR LIQUIDE for LASALTM gases lighter than the domestic one by 10 kilograms.
This design of the cylinders is certified for the Russian market and passed the necessary tests for compliance with the requirements of GOST 949 "Steel gas cylinders of small and medium volume Pp ≤ 19,6 mPa (200 kgs/cm 2)". Moreover, G¾ thread of the cylinders is adapted for the Russian reducers.
Intelligent SMARTOPTM valves
SMARTOPTM valve is an own development of AIR LIQUIDE Company, patented and not applied in the cylinders of other manufacturers.
The valve is versatile, but its main objective is to prevent the ingress of harmful impurities from atmospheric air in the cylinder during the work.
Main advantages of the new gate (fig.3):
a protective cap which constantly protects from blows. The cap is ergonomic and allows rolling a cylinder conveniently and safely to a working zone without risk of casual opening of the valve;
instead of the conventional screw mechanism with a flywheel, the locking valve is equipped with the lever which allows to open and close in one movement (up/down);
a built-in pressure indicator allows to receive instant information on the availability and approximate amount of gas in a cylinder from the moment of delivery of the cylinder to a production site, that facilitates the procedure of checking the filling of cylinders at their acceptance from the supplier, and also allows the operator to estimate a remaining gas amount;
a built-in automatic residual pressure valve RPV provides for necessary gas residual pressure in a cylinder, without polluting a cylinder with the atmospheric air, even in case of accidental opening of the locking valve;
in order to provide safety and to prevent gas loss, for example in case of accidental damage of the gas supply line, each valve is equipped with the additional flow limiter;
for connection of domestic gas reducers, the SMARTOPTM valve is provided with a standard G¾ thread. It facilitates the transition to work with AIR LIQUIDE cylinders.
You can close the gas supply fast using an ON/OFF switching lever, which additionally provides you with the visual indication of the valve operation state
Dampening cap SCANDINATM protects the valve and the cylinder from the blows, thus increasing its safety during transportation, maintenance and directly during operation
Connect the pressure reducer, open the lever and you are ready to operate
Built-in pressure indicator allows you to visually monitor the gas pressure in the cylinder without connecting a reducer
Built-in limiter of gas flow provides protection in case of gas line failure
Installed residual pressure valve prevents the possible gas contamination in the cylinder from the outside, both during operation and storage, even when the switching lever is open
SCANDINATM cap facilitates the use of the cylinder during its movement
SMARTOPTM – smart valve. SMARTOPTM is a new valve designed for operation with any cylinder. This practical and economic solution will fit all pressure regulators.
Constant monitoring. Thanks to SMARTOPTM you can visually and in any time monitor the remaining amount of gas in the cylinder without connecting a reducer.
Cost effectiveness. The valve allows you to control the gas flow and therefore to plan a replacement in advance. Thus, you can optimally use the available cylinders.
Maximum convenience. The valve is opened and closed with one simple move, thus ensuring the convenience and ease of use.
Continuous safety. Built-in gas flow regulator ensures the additional level of protection in case of accidental opening of the cylinder.
Monoblocks
Monoblocks for the compressed gases represent a multichamber vessel consisting of several cylinders connected by the copper or stainless steel tubes and placed in a rigid welded framework.
AIR LIQUIDE delivers gases in the monoblocks of own development. The framework is equipped with eyes and double base for a fork loader that provides versatility and convenience of its loading / unloading and movement in a shop. Their main difference from the monoblocks offered by other producers is that "AIR LIQUIDE" monoblocks have 16 cylinders of the increased volume (50 l) and increased pressure 200 (300) kgf/cm 2) thus, the working reserve of gas reaches 151 (211 nm 3) for LASALTM2001 nitrogen and 169 nm 3 for LASALTM 2003 oxygen.
Similar to the cylinders, all AIR LIQUIDE monoblocks are supplied with indicators of amount of gas and special valves which have automatic RPV valves. For shop conditions and laser equipment with major gas consumption, the monoblocks can be easily connected on a ramp which provides fast switching during operation from an empty monoblock to a full one in the manual or semi-automatic mode, ensuring trouble-free operation of a laser cutting complex (fig.4).
Delivery and services
Delivery of the cylinders and monoblocks is carried out by the AIR LIQUIDE transport equipped with own fork loader. Thus, there is no need to distract the customer’s personnel from work for unloading of the delivered batch of the cylinders. All work connected with loading and unloading is carried out by the AIR LIQUIDE drivers which are specially trained to with a fork loader.
For safe transportation of single cylinders, the 15-seat pallets equipped with tensioning belts are used (fig 5).
Other options of delivery
The options of delivery of process gases LASALTM to the end user depend on volumes of consumption and concrete specifics of production.
Additionally to the cylinders and monoblocks mentioned above, there are cryogenic capacities which volume is defined proceeding from the monthly consumption. Delivery is possible both in the cryogenic capacity established by AIR LIQUIDE and in the capacity belonging to the customer. All AIR LIQUIDE capacities are equipped with system of telemetry which helps the AIR LIQUIDE personnel to plan and provide uninterrupted delivery and unloading of the liquefied gas independently.
These solutions allow us to cover all possible requirements of any cutting production and to optimize the customer’s expenses.
Anyone who practices laser cutting on a daily basis knows well that the quality of an edge and speed of cutting, and, therefore, the machine productivity, depends on the quality and purity of auxiliary technological gases: nitrogen and oxygen.
An indispensable condition of implementation of advantages of pure gases for laser cutting is a preservation of high and stable quality from the place of production to the point of use. Thus, it is not enough just to observe the requirements of GOST and/or TS at the production, it is also important to keep and deliver gas of initial quality to the laser cutting machine, namely, to provide its standard quantity in a container, its required purity and composition of critical impurities.
AIR LIQUIDE offer
for laser technologies
The basis of the AIR LIQUIDE offer is presented by the gas products which are specially developed for laser technologies (table), services, specialized containers – cylinders and monoblocks of the increased capacity for the compressed gases, or the cryogenic capacities for the liquefied gases, as well as the process support by the experts "AIR LIQUIDE" of our customers.
New "AIR LIQUIDE" cylinders
"What can be new and special in a cylinder?" the question which the production workers could probably ask. Partly they will be right since the designs of all standard cylinders are very similar in general.
However, the specialists of AIR LIQUIDE introduced a number of the major completions in the design of gas cylinders with improved container ergonomics, facilitating the operation of a cylinder, providing the quality of gas, increasing its quantity, thus, optimizing logistics.
Let’s list these important changes:
increased cylinder volume (50 liters, fig.1) in comparison with a standard cylinder of a domestic production (40 liters);
increased pressure of gas in the AIR LIQUIDE cylinder – 200–300 kgf/cm 2, instead of 150 kgf/cm 2 in the cylinders of a domestic production;
decreased cylinder weight due to the use of high-strength steel;
use of special SMARTOPTM valves with the built-in back pressure valve;
strong protective caps for protection of the valve and convenience of manual movement of a cylinder in a working zone (fig.2).
The factory technology "AIR LIQUIDE" for the automated filling of gases provides stability of process and excludes ingress of gases in the cylinders and monoblocks from the outside and the violation of quality set out in the specification of LASALTM gases. These features allow guaranteeing the stability of quality of gases for each delivery, and save time of the operators when setting up the machine for cutting process after replacement of a cylinder or a monoblock.
The use of the specialized marked container series for gases of the increased purity LASALTM provides additional guarantee of control of purity and composition of gas. When the cutting modes are optimally selected, the cutting speed with oxygen LASALTM 2003 (purity of 99,95%) is 15–25% higher for various materials in comparison with the usual industrial oxygen (purity of 99,5%). Thus, the specific consumption of gas and other specific expenses and costs per running meter of a cut is lower for purer oxygen even at a considerable difference in the gas price. Expensive gas makes cutting cheaper!!!
Despite the fact that a gas cylinder of LASALTM family has obviously bigger internal volume, due to special steel, it was practically not reflected in the dimensions of the cylinder. When assembled, it is higher than the cylinders of a domestic production only by a height of a protective cap. The protective cap is supplied with the special ergonomic "mushroom" on top developed for convenient grip, thus allowing you to roll a cylinder in a working zone safely and without big efforts, if needed.
The combination of larger volume (50 l) and increased pressure (200–300 kgf/cm 2) allowed providing a volume of gas of the cylinder almost 2–3 times more.
In practice, it allows you to reduce the amount of cylinders almost by half and to save warehouse spaces, and also to reduce transportation costs considerably for delivery of necessary amount of gas and to reduce time and costs of work with cylinders.
The use of modern materials in combination with modified design of a cylinder allowed making the cylinder AIR LIQUIDE for LASALTM gases lighter than the domestic one by 10 kilograms.
This design of the cylinders is certified for the Russian market and passed the necessary tests for compliance with the requirements of GOST 949 "Steel gas cylinders of small and medium volume Pp ≤ 19,6 mPa (200 kgs/cm 2)". Moreover, G¾ thread of the cylinders is adapted for the Russian reducers.
Intelligent SMARTOPTM valves
SMARTOPTM valve is an own development of AIR LIQUIDE Company, patented and not applied in the cylinders of other manufacturers.
The valve is versatile, but its main objective is to prevent the ingress of harmful impurities from atmospheric air in the cylinder during the work.
Main advantages of the new gate (fig.3):
a protective cap which constantly protects from blows. The cap is ergonomic and allows rolling a cylinder conveniently and safely to a working zone without risk of casual opening of the valve;
instead of the conventional screw mechanism with a flywheel, the locking valve is equipped with the lever which allows to open and close in one movement (up/down);
a built-in pressure indicator allows to receive instant information on the availability and approximate amount of gas in a cylinder from the moment of delivery of the cylinder to a production site, that facilitates the procedure of checking the filling of cylinders at their acceptance from the supplier, and also allows the operator to estimate a remaining gas amount;
a built-in automatic residual pressure valve RPV provides for necessary gas residual pressure in a cylinder, without polluting a cylinder with the atmospheric air, even in case of accidental opening of the locking valve;
in order to provide safety and to prevent gas loss, for example in case of accidental damage of the gas supply line, each valve is equipped with the additional flow limiter;
for connection of domestic gas reducers, the SMARTOPTM valve is provided with a standard G¾ thread. It facilitates the transition to work with AIR LIQUIDE cylinders.
You can close the gas supply fast using an ON/OFF switching lever, which additionally provides you with the visual indication of the valve operation state
Dampening cap SCANDINATM protects the valve and the cylinder from the blows, thus increasing its safety during transportation, maintenance and directly during operation
Connect the pressure reducer, open the lever and you are ready to operate
Built-in pressure indicator allows you to visually monitor the gas pressure in the cylinder without connecting a reducer
Built-in limiter of gas flow provides protection in case of gas line failure
Installed residual pressure valve prevents the possible gas contamination in the cylinder from the outside, both during operation and storage, even when the switching lever is open
SCANDINATM cap facilitates the use of the cylinder during its movement
SMARTOPTM – smart valve. SMARTOPTM is a new valve designed for operation with any cylinder. This practical and economic solution will fit all pressure regulators.
Constant monitoring. Thanks to SMARTOPTM you can visually and in any time monitor the remaining amount of gas in the cylinder without connecting a reducer.
Cost effectiveness. The valve allows you to control the gas flow and therefore to plan a replacement in advance. Thus, you can optimally use the available cylinders.
Maximum convenience. The valve is opened and closed with one simple move, thus ensuring the convenience and ease of use.
Continuous safety. Built-in gas flow regulator ensures the additional level of protection in case of accidental opening of the cylinder.
Monoblocks
Monoblocks for the compressed gases represent a multichamber vessel consisting of several cylinders connected by the copper or stainless steel tubes and placed in a rigid welded framework.
AIR LIQUIDE delivers gases in the monoblocks of own development. The framework is equipped with eyes and double base for a fork loader that provides versatility and convenience of its loading / unloading and movement in a shop. Their main difference from the monoblocks offered by other producers is that "AIR LIQUIDE" monoblocks have 16 cylinders of the increased volume (50 l) and increased pressure 200 (300) kgf/cm 2) thus, the working reserve of gas reaches 151 (211 nm 3) for LASALTM2001 nitrogen and 169 nm 3 for LASALTM 2003 oxygen.
Similar to the cylinders, all AIR LIQUIDE monoblocks are supplied with indicators of amount of gas and special valves which have automatic RPV valves. For shop conditions and laser equipment with major gas consumption, the monoblocks can be easily connected on a ramp which provides fast switching during operation from an empty monoblock to a full one in the manual or semi-automatic mode, ensuring trouble-free operation of a laser cutting complex (fig.4).
Delivery and services
Delivery of the cylinders and monoblocks is carried out by the AIR LIQUIDE transport equipped with own fork loader. Thus, there is no need to distract the customer’s personnel from work for unloading of the delivered batch of the cylinders. All work connected with loading and unloading is carried out by the AIR LIQUIDE drivers which are specially trained to with a fork loader.
For safe transportation of single cylinders, the 15-seat pallets equipped with tensioning belts are used (fig 5).
Other options of delivery
The options of delivery of process gases LASALTM to the end user depend on volumes of consumption and concrete specifics of production.
Additionally to the cylinders and monoblocks mentioned above, there are cryogenic capacities which volume is defined proceeding from the monthly consumption. Delivery is possible both in the cryogenic capacity established by AIR LIQUIDE and in the capacity belonging to the customer. All AIR LIQUIDE capacities are equipped with system of telemetry which helps the AIR LIQUIDE personnel to plan and provide uninterrupted delivery and unloading of the liquefied gas independently.
These solutions allow us to cover all possible requirements of any cutting production and to optimize the customer’s expenses.
Readers feedback
