Hot work on Ar and O2 pipes

[saldanha]

Hi there
I am trying to modify our utility pipes in the plant supplying argon and oxygen. this will involve provinding argon and oxygen to other point in the plant. the argon line will go to the spectrometer. the joining method will involve welding. what are the safety precaussions. what are the testing methods.
the pipes are about 20mm in diameter and I am planning just a T-joint down from headers on the roof. the header is about 100mm in diameter.

 

[IRstuff]

We were using 1/4" SS pipe for most of our semiconductor process gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and hydrogen chloride. These were all attached using Swagelok fittings.

You'll obviously need to flush the O2 line prior to any sort of flammble process. Then you'll need to THOROUGHLY clean the pipes to eliminate contamination from flux, etc., particularly if you're sending gas to a spectrometer or other instrument as well as to prevent back contamination into your existing processes. Likewise, your new piping will need to be thoroughly purged.

I vaguely remember that our facilities guys used liquid oxygen??? to clean new piping.



TTFN