Compressed gas cylinders are often utilized in research labs all over the world, and when installed and handled correctly, they are a safe and reliable gas source for all your gas chromatography needs. However, gas generators are marketed as the better option.
Thus, the question now concerns whether gas generators are, in fact, the better solution, specifically when it comes to gas chromatography (GC). To help answer this question, we will outline ten key reasons why we believe gas cylinders are considered the optimum gas solution for your lab.
Limitations of using Gas Generators for Gas Chromatography (GC)
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Sufficient Gas Volume
Gas generators have limited flexibility in terms of the volume they can produce. When considering a generator as a supply option, the volume of gas that will be required in the short and long term needs careful upfront thought. Generators are typically designed around a particular analytical procedure; as the necessity grows, more generators may need to be purchased. On the other hand, gas cylinders are adaptable enough to quickly meet the shifting needs of a modern laboratory. -
Only Nitrogen (N2) and Hydrogen (H2) are Supplied
Gas generators can only supply nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2); therefore, holding any other gases in cylinders onsite is still necessary and pertinent. Additionally, for prescribed methods, such as environmental testing, the ability to switch carrier gas is limited as the majority of EPA procedures require helium as the carrier gas. -
Maintenance Costs
Gas generators are not always the “plug-and-play” option. While generators have recently improved in terms of reliability, they still need routine servicing and maintenance. Users must purchase a separate service and maintenance package, spare parts, and emergency breakdown coverage to ensure that the generated gas purity criteria are upheld, all of which raise the generator’s overall operating expenses. -
Capital Outlay
The upfront cost of buying the gas generator outright is much higher compared to renting gas cylinders, and for smaller labs or more niche projects, this can consume a significant portion of a budget. -
The Energy Costs Needed to Run the Generator Generators can be power-hungry. The electrical power consumption of generators is frequently overlooked at a time when companies are more aware than ever of their carbon impact and actively working to reduce it. A single gas generator for use in GC consumes about 18 kWh of power per day, compared to a typical household that uses 8.5 – 10 kWh per day.
Right now, when power rates are at all-time highs, the cost of merely running a small benchtop generator could easily reach hundreds of pounds annually. -
Excess Heat Output
An often-overlooked by-product of using gas generators is the sheer amount of thermal energy they emit. A benchtop hydrogen gas generator may produce up to 1000 BTU/hour of heat, which is equivalent to a small radiator or one to two industrial servers. This heat calls for air conditioning systems, which incur additional energy expenditures. -
Bench Space
In the modern lab, bench space is at a premium, and every piece of apparatus and equipment needs to earn its place. A gas generator takes up floor or bench space, whereas cylinders are relatively compact or can be externally installed in a lab with inlet lines. It could be argued that with cylinders as an alternative, a generator does not deserve its place on the bench in place of something more vital.
Cylinders can also quickly adjust to the shifting needs of a laboratory, thanks to their flexibility. However, as generators are often built to support a particular analytical procedure, buying more may be necessary if demand rises. -
Requires Switching to Hydrogen (H2)
Another pressing issue is that gas generators can only make H2 gas. Not all equipment is well-suited to working with hydrogen as a carrier gas, so it is necessary to consider detector types or prescribed methods. Users of certain detectors, such as pulsed discharge detectors (PDD), helium ionization detectors (HID), and pulsed discharge helium ionization detectors (PDDHID), cannot use a hydrogen generator as a gas source. -
Cylinders as a Backup
It is both routine and good practice for gas generator users to store cylinders onsite as a backup source in case the gas generator fails, meaning all the benefits of eliminating cylinders from the lab are largely nullified. Users who assume gas generators will lead to the demise of cylinders may not have thought about a backup gas source. Holding cylinders on site as a backup source of gas is still advised due to the genuine risk of generator failure. -
Carbon Footprint
Although this does not necessarily have a monetary cost, ethical businesses are more aware of their carbon footprint than ever and are actively working to find innovative approaches to reducing it. When working out whether a new type of gas source will truly be more environmentally friendly, the electricity consumption of a generator must be considered in any calculations. For cylinders, it is also necessary to consider how transport costs and production factor into the carbon footprint of the gas delivery message.
Should Your Lab Stick With Gas Cylinders Over Gas Generators?
With the significant upfront costs involved in acquiring a gas generator and the associated expenses of maintaining and running it in your lab, plus the environmental impacts, gas generators are not always the ideal solution for laboratories. As highlighted above, there are several reasons why cylinders, when maintained and used properly, are still the better option.
Air Products offer gas cylinders specific to the laboratory market needs. Our BIP® technology delivers ultra-high purity gas through an integrated purification system that removes any trace pollutants before they leave the cylinder. The outcome is that your lab is guaranteed to have the lowest concentrations of essential contaminants, moisture, oxygen, and total hydrocarbons of any ultra-high purity gas in a supply mode that is reliable, flexible, and without any hidden extra costs.
Click here to learn more about the hidden
costs of gas generators, gas chromatography, and the advanced BIP® UHP gas cylinders for your laboratory.
References
https://www.airproducts.expert/uk/BIP/articles/generators
https://www.airproducts.expert/uk/BIP/articles/gas-chromatography