liquid oxy - flow meters?

[themoch]

I want to start this thread off by saying i've used liquid oxy for many years now.

i have a new account with my new shop. I have 3 people working regularly about 5 days a week. I have been blowing through a 200L (5,400 cu/ft) liquid tank in about a week and a half, and a 100Lb propane tank in about the same amount of time.

it used to be that i could work 5 days a week with 1 other person and have that same 200L tank last 4-5 weeks. so if i got like 3 weeks out of the 200L i would be fine, but 10 days max just doesn't seem right to me.

same thing with the propane. i figure we're running through about 15lbs a day at the rate we're working, which seems retardedly fast.

I was wondering how you guys who run bigger shops keep track of how full the tanks are you get, or how much you're using out of them.

do any of you use a digital flow meter or anything like that?

[styles1 torchlife]

I know of a shop that has 6 torches a couple deltas and CC+'s they can run through a 180 liter in four days when they are all raging it.

[Forche]

There is only 2 of is at our studio, running lathes and deltas 40+hrs a week each and we use about 3/4 to a full 180 tank a week. I have to fill 2 100lb and 2 25lb propane tanks about every 2 weeks.

[Mr. Wonka]

Andrew-

When I was in the air compressor business we used flow meters all the time. They are not very affordable to the average Joe, but air and gas companies have them.

Try calling your gas supplier and ask if

A) They have them, and

B) How much would it cost to rent the equipment

C)Can they do a gas flow analysis.

You should be able to determine how much Propane and Oxygen you are using for the entire shop, and / or per work station.

Obviously this is more precise than, "A cylinder of this size lasts me "x" amount of time".

I would be happy to contribute some funds to this project if you would like to do a study, and I'm sure others would as well.

I hope that helps bro : )

Tom

[brettodie]

get a industrial scale to weigh it.
when ever ive run a 100# prop and liquid they always run out with in a day or so of each other.
in a shop with 4 people we would go thru a tank of each once a week.

[2wheeler]

This thread is really interesting to me because my air gas doesn't fill the tanks on the spot...I have to call them a day ahead of time and swap them... I have a tank right now that's been venting at a 100psi and it makes me fussy hearing money trickle out... I would love to have a flow meter to compare tanks...

[Mr. Wonka]

Suzuki- what is your safety valve set at? It should be 350 psi (clearly labeled or stamped). If you're duping @ 100 psi, your gas company should replace the tank @ no charge;. Safety valves are set for 250 or 350 psi, and should not vent below the set pressure.

Tom

[Forche]

Venting at 100 psi? That sux bro - what is your release rated at? If it is only 100 get it swapped out, mine are rated at 235 and 350.

[Greymatter Glass]

Airgas saturation fills my tank while I wait... I stand there till liquid is blasting out of the vent port, and close it off... close supply, open hose vent, close my liquid fill, close my tank vent, disconnect hose, and off I go.

a 180l tank holds about 185l of liquid when saturation filled....


As for flow meters, I found some a while back that were digital feedback meters that were RS-232 or RS-422 compliant or optionally 802.11 wireless that could report to a PC. They make them in a variety of flow capacities and calibrations and were between $700-1500 each. Look around sites like thomas register, graingers, and mcmaster-carr I dont recall which one I found them on. They are used to measure GAS flow, not liquid flow.... but you shouldnt be pushing liquid anyways.

As for your consumption rates that sounds high.... with 3 or 4 people working steady here we get about 10 days avg on our 180, and a 100# propane tank last through at least 2 liquid fills.

I would go around and inspect all your pipes. Pressure test them, close all the valves and put 100psi on the line, then close off the tank valve and see how long it holds pressure. If you're dropping more than 5psi an hour you have a pretty good leak. A well constructed system will hold 100psi with no more than 5 psi drop over 24 hours. Mine drops about 1.5 psi an hour and I know there are a couple good leaks...

Also you have to really police usage.... make sure people are walking around with their torch running, and make sure ALL valves are closed when not in use.

hth.

-Doug

[themoch]

the leak was the first thought. I tested it out and found that i didn't drop anything in an hour of the lines pushed to 100psi.

i'm going to start keeping really good track of what's going on. I have one guy with a kabuki that will leave his torch on and walk away. he has a foot pedal that stays on after he clicks it.

i don't believe he is the culprit but i'm going to make sure the gas is actually being used to make glass.

[J Howard]

lol, i think your usage sounds normal to me- when a few people are raging it. i find that a 180L tank of liquid is about 100-110 hours of heavy use.

[Julian]

I can't stand when people turn on their torch and wander off.... even a small flame. Not only is it a waste of gas but it doesn't seem very safe. Tell Robert to cut that out! :tongue2:

[themoch]

Whoa whoa whoa. No need to name drop. :-P

J, thanks for the input. I think that after reading all of this my consumption rate seems "normal" but the question now is where is all this finished product we should have after all this fule is used up?

Looks like I need to turn out more work.

[Samson]

All fun and games till a name gets dropped! 8) GL on finding out whats what Moch, sounds like yall are busting it out hard 8)

chad

[2wheeler]

The tank i got has 350psi release, vents all day everyday... I don't really think i'm losing all that much so it's hard to justify the 45min drive there and the hour long wait to get it swapped.. What i need to do now is find a tank I like and start going to Prax air or Linweld...(they both fill them on the spot). And buy a bigger truck... anybody ever put a liquid in the back of a S-10? My tank is worth more than my truck... so i have to borrow vehicles when i run out of lox...another reason i need a concentrator for my homefill.

[Forche]

^^Might be a dumb question, but you have your pressure builder shut tight right? I've heard myths of releases going bad and sticking open a bit...probably not whats happening but good luck man!

Oh yeah there a couple threads about transporting dewers in a truck. I used to do it with a v-6 dodge ram.

[Greymatter Glass]

a full 180l tank is about 800-900 pounds so any small half-ton will do the job. I use my Tacoma and it handles it fine.

There are a bunch of LOX threads here about pressure builders, economizer valves, and safe transport and filling. I suggest a search for the term "LOX" it will find them.