Industrial Gas: Types, Applications & Storage Selection Guide

Industrial gases are the redefined or tailored form of natural gases extensively utilized for facilitating industrial processes and supporting contemporary living. To discuss and define various types of industrial gases and their applications, we have curated a comprehensive blog for you. It goes through every nuance and detail of Industrial gas and covers how industrial gas cylinders play a pivotal role in storing them. Keep reading! 

A] Introduction to Industrial Gases

As the name suggests, industrial gases are manufactured to fulfil industrial requirements. They are made from low-molecular-weight molecules or a mixture of molecules to supplement industrial applications with tailored chemical properties. The common types of industrial gases are oxygen (O₂), nitrogen (N₂), argon (Ar), hydrogen (H₂), and carbon dioxide (CO₂). They are widely used in various types of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, food and beverages, and electronics. Industrial gases require robust and extremely safe cylinders to store gases in a compressed or cryogenic state. 

B] Types of Industrial Gases 

1. Oxygen (O₂)

Oxygen (O₂) is a purified and highly concentrated industrial gas used in industrial processes like metal fabrication, welding, metal cutting, and chemical oxidation. It acts as an oxidising agent to enhance the efficiency of oxygen-requiring industrial processes. It requires extremely safe and robust oxygen cylinders that should be specially designed to store compressed forms of oxygen and provide safe and controlled dispensing.. 

2. Nitrogen (N₂)

Nitrogen (N₂) is a colourless, odourless, and inert gas extensively used in food processing, chemical processes, metal manufacturing, laser cutting and welding. Due to nitrogen’s inert property, it is widely used in industrial applications where creating an unreactive environment is required. It works as a blanketing agent and prevents critical processes from oxidation. Tailored industrial cylinders are used to store and dispense this inert gas safely. 

3. Argon (Ar)

Argon (Ar) is another colourless, odourless, and inert gas utilised in industrial processes like metal, glass and food production, packaging, and welding. It also acts as a blanketing agent to prevent critical processes from being oxidised due to atmospheric reactions. Storing argon gas safely requires robust and transportable gas cylinders that can withstand highly compressed argon gas for a longer period. 

4. Hydrogen (H₂)

Hydrogen (H₂) is a colourless, odourless, and non-toxic industrial gas used to power industrial processes like oil refining, ammonia production, and steelmaking. In addition, it also acts as a coolant for large electrical generators, provides fuels to rockets, and acts as a catalyst for electricity generation. It is a highly flammable and explosive gas that must be stored in highly safe and robust industrial cylinders to mitigate any potential accident. 

5.Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a colourless, odourless, denser than air, and multi-applications industrial gas. It is widely used in welding, chemical synthesis, pH regulation, and carbonation. In addition, carbon dioxide is widely used as a fire extinguishing agent. It is stored in a firefighting cylinder to put off the fire and tailored industrial cylinders for other industrial applications.

C] Applications of Industrial Gases

• Manufacturing: Industrial gases are heavily used in manufacturing processes for welding, metal cutting, metal fabrication, and steel production.
• Healthcare: Healthcare is also one of the prominent users of industrial gases for oxygen therapy, anaesthesia, and sterilisation.
• Food and Beverage Industry: Industrial gases are used in the F&B industry to preserve food and package it. They are also used for carbonation and store the product at the cryogenic temperature.
• Chemical and Petrochemical: Chemical and petrochemical industrial processes, such as water treatment, sterilisation, heating, and chemical processing, utilise industrial gas.
• Electronics and Semiconductor Industry: Industrial gases are utilised to facilitate processes such as thin film deposition, packaging, and soldering.

D] Why Are Industrial Cylinders Used To Store Industrial Gases Safely?

Industrial cylinders are made from high-strength material and modern manufacturing technology to store highly compressed industrial gases and dispense them in a controlled way when needed. Industrial cylinders undergo countless rigorous tests to fully ensure they can handle explosive or non-explosive high-pressure industrial gases safely. In addition, the robust build quality and transport-friendly ergonomics allow industries to move gas-containing industrial cylinders safely. For decades, industrial gas cylinders have been a go-to choice for industries dealing with industrial gases.

E] How to Select the Right Cylinder For Storing Industrial Gases

1. Types of Gas

Before selecting industrial gas cylinders, it is essential to assess which types of gas are to be filled in the cylinder. Industrial cylinders are designed to withstand specific gases while keeping in mind the properties and nature of the gas. Knowing your gas type will let you choose the best-fit cylinder according to your gas type needs.

2. Security Features

Industrial gases are mostly hazardous, and they need extremely safe and equipped with rigorous security measures to prevent any unforeseen event from occurring. Industrial cylinders should have some robust security measures, like pressure relief valves, pressure regulators, safety caps, and mechanisms for controlled dispensing.

3. Storage Capacity

Lastly, choose those industrial cylinders that provide an efficient volume for storing a required amount of gas. Utilising incorrect or lower-capacity cylinders poses system incompatibility and may lead to catching fire or explosion.

Conclusion

Industrial gases are extensively used in various industrial processes to facilitate mechanical, chemical, and biological processes. Whereas, industrial gas cylinders play a pivotal role in storing and transporting these hazardous gases safely and seamlessly. To provide tailored and robust industrial cylinders to various national and international industries, Rama Cylinders, one of the world’s largest industrial cylinder suppliers , manufactures industrial cylinders with German technology which comes out clean on various domestic and international security parameters. If you are searching for extremely robust and rigorous industrial cylinders to store industrial gases, contact us now!