Hi everyone,

      I wanted to ask how other labs are handling using two He cylinders
to supply their peripherals. We will soon have a Gasbench, TC-EA,
EA, and Conflo III so we will be going through a lot of He.  I know
they make "switchover" systems/regulators ($1000+) that
automatically switches the flow from the full cylinder as the other
becomes empty.  I assume we could simply use a 3-way valve ($70) and
switch the flow manually.  However, for both methods I wonder if
there is an impact of having a volume of air being pushed through
the lines as you switch from one tank to the other.  This "air"
would be a result of removing the empty tank with a fresh one which
would allow air to fill the tubing between the cylinder and the
3-way valve or switchover system.  Any ideas?

Thanks,

Joe



W. Joe Lambert
Research Scientist
Alabama Stable Isotope Laboratory
University of Alabama
Geological Sciences
202 Bevill Building
7th Avenue
P.O. Box 870338
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0338
Phone: (205) 348-4404
Fax: (205) 348-0818
email: [log in to unmask]
Visit our web-site: http:www.geo.ua.edu/asil