Vacuum Equipment

Mass Flow Controller Applications  Visit Our Online Store to Purchase Mass Flow Controllers and Meters

Gas pressure and flow ratio control to bioreactors - Accurate control of process feedstock using the Alicat Scientific MFC ensures maximum growth rates for effective use of input materials.

Gas Calibration Standard- The Alicat Scientific Mass Flow Meter and 9V Battery Pack is ideal to measure and verify flow. This portable solution is excellent for verification in place that your instrument is working properly before doing the work to de-install and send to a Metrology Lab.

Gas Sparging It is common to have to contact a product with a gas as

part of processing. This procedure is commonly known as

sparging. Some common sparging applications are:

• Sparging with N2 to remove water

• Sparging with CO2 to decrease Ph

• Sparging with NH3 to increase Ph

• Sparging with H2 to hydrogenate

• Sparging with Cl2 to disinfect

• Sparging with O2 to oxidize

• Sparging with CO2 to carbonate

• Sparging with air to increase volume

It is important to sparge at a constant flow rate to achieve

the desired results. Sparging is usually accomplished by

injecting the gas into a bar with many fine holes or one that

is made from a sintered material. The holes can become

partially clogged over time, which reduces the flow rate. With the Alicat Scientific MFC, there are307 pre-programmed gases on-board. This gives the user flexibility in measuring different gases with the same device.

Valve Leak Testing - For proper operation, power plant control valves must close

leak-tight. The leak integrity of a new or rebuilt control

valve is tested and recorded before placing it in service at a

critical location. If the control valve is found to be faulty, it

is either returned to the vendor or sent back to the repair

shop. The valve leak rate must be measured accurately to

help the repair shop determine what was wrong with the

valve and what to do about it. With the Alicat Scientific MFC, flow rates as low as 0.5 sccm can be specified as the full scale value. With our 100 to 1 turn down ratio, very small leaks can be identified.

Gas Usage Monitoring - Common gases such as nitrogen, oxygen and argon are

stored in bulk at a common area for distribution to departments

throughout the plant. The expense of the gas is

charged to general plant overhead. This practice allows the

plant to get the bulk quantity discounts from the supplier,

but encourages waste by the departments that use the gas.

The Alicat Scientific MFC can be equipped with a totalizer which will totalize flow for that particular gas. With the Alicat Scientific MFC, there are 30 pre-programmed gases on-board. This gives the user flexibility in measuring different gases with the same device.

Differential Pressure Leak Test - A plumbing fixture maker needed to detect very low leak

rates in their products, in the range of 1.0 sccm or less.

Such levels are easily masked or confused by “noise” from

seal and pipe leaks, elastic seal compressions, hose lengths

and diameters, etc. A previous method employed to find

leaks at this level involved a continuously fed pressure test;

however, it created inaccuracies due to minute pressure

fluctuations.  With the Alicat Scientific MFC, flow rates as low as 0.5 sccm can be specified as the full scale value. With our 100 to 1 turn down ratio, very small leaks can be identified.

Nuclear Reactor Cooling Systems - Liquid flow meters are a critical part of nuclear reactor cooling systems. Water must be delivered to the reactor at all times and flow meters are used to monitor this. If a flow meter detects a decrease in flow, which happens when intake pipes clog with mud or debris, a backup pumping system is immediately activated. It is vital that these flow meters are accurately calibrated on a regular basis. With the  Alicat Scientific Water Flow Meters, water flow can be measured and verified.

Fuel Cell Applications - There are many fuel cell applications that require mass flow controllers. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) need reliable, repeatable and speedy flow measurements. With the Alicat Scientific Mass Flow Controller, update time is 50 milliseconds. Full scale values for the mass flow controller can be as low as 0.5 sccm. With the RS 232 and FlowVision™ software, the Alicat Scientific Mass Flow Controllers and Mass Flow Meters are an excellent choice for testing applications in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and other fuel cell applications.

Vacuum Sputtering - Gas flow in vacuum coating or metalizing applications is critical to good thin film coatings. Typical sputtering gases are argon, oxygen and nitrogen. . With the Apex MFC, there are 17 pre-programmed gases on-board. This gives the user flexibility in measuring different gases with the same device which benefits in a cost savings. The 100 to 1 turndown ratio is perfect for applications which require a wide range of flows in the sputtering process.