Overview
Air Gases
Oxygen, nitrogen and argon are recovered from the air by separation. It is a cryogenic method developed by Carl von Linde more than 100 years ago. The air is compressed and freed of vapour, dust and carbon dioxide. Then refrigerated to extremely low temperatures, compressed to a liquid and separated by distillation into oxygen, nitrogen and argon and other noble gases.
Air
Air constitutes of nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21% and argon 1%.
Argon is a noble gas. Krypton, neon and xenon are other noble gases and together they constitute less than 0,1 percent of the atmosphere.
Acetylene
Acetylene is a highly flammable gas. An acetylene/oxygen flame have a temperature over 3000°C. Acetylene is conventionally produced through a reaction between calcium carbide and water.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide (CO2), is a part of the life cycle in the nature. The gas is exhaled by humans and animals, and used by plants, that in return release oxygen. Carbon dioxide is produced from by-products from processes such as combustion, fermentation or oxidation of a carbon compound. The “raw gas” must be purified in several stages to the quality required.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the lightest of all elements and constitutes 90 percent of the known universe. The gas may be obtained by means of a steam-reformer from steam, natural gas or other light hydrocarbons. Refineries and electrolytic processes employed in chlorine chemistry also generate hydrogen-rich gases from which the hydrogen can be recovered.
Liquid hydrogen is manufactured by liquefaction at -253°C and is transported in its liquid state, thus reducing transport costs.
Shielding gas mixtures
Shielding gases is a general term for a range of products used in the joining and cutting of predominately metallic materials. They protect the molten metal in the weld from oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere. Our shielding gases for the metal fabrication industry and for the food industry are examples of different gas mixtures.