Working in conjunction with the Compressed Gas Association, Gasworld magazine is currently producing a series of safety tip-focussed articles covering all aspects of equipment and product handling. This month the focus is on valves. See Safety first: 10 tips for cylinder valve safety | Safety (gasworld.com)
For FIBA, the valve has always been a critical element of the gas storage and transportation solution, never more so than when designing and manufacturing for the electronics sector.
The fact is that specialty gases used in the production of semi-conductors – and in the electronics sector as a whole – require the very highest standard of high pressure vessel, valve and manifold for their safe transportation and storage. This is because the specialized gases used in this sector are both expensive and sensitive.
Some time ago, after much careful R&D, FIBA developed specialist high grade tubes, valves and manifolds to answer the needs of this industry.
Of course, some gases are more volatile than others, but the interior of vessels can now be polished to a 20 RA microinch finish, which vastly reduces the risk of particulate contamination.
And the valves also receive special attention. Tied diaphragm or regular diaphragm valves are often deployed by the electronics industry to eliminate leaks.
By constructing manifolds from 316L SS or Hastelloy, depending on the gas being carried or stored, and by orbitally welding them, particulate contamination is minimized and gas cleanliness is maintained.