While helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, here on Earth, our supplies are limited. Extracting and refining helium is an intensive, expensive process and global demand is rising rapidly—and for good reason.
Helium is essential across a wide range of industries. From MRI scanners in healthcare to aerospace engineering, manufacturing, leak testing and even party balloons, helium’s applications are endless. But its supplies are limited. As a result, pure helium cylinders are both costly and in high demand. So, for industries that rely on helium, what’s the solution?
On-Site Helium Gas Mixing
With helium prices on the rise, relying solely on pure helium cylinders is no longer economically viable for many businesses. Our on-site helium gas mixing systems offer an alternative: blending helium with nitrogen—resulting in a mix that meets industrial needs while conserving precious helium gas.
Gas mixers, like our popular GM series, play a critical role in a huge range of applications while meeting rigorous industrial standards, particularly for applications like leak testing, where helium’s tiny, inert atoms make it ideal for detecting microscopic leaks in larger assemblies.
The Why and How
Helium is an incredible tool for leak testing because its atoms are exceptionally tiny; small enough to slip through even the most minor cracks, revealing leaks that would otherwise go undetected.
The helium leak detection process is straightforward: an assembly is filled with a helium gas mixture and monitors detect any escaping gas, indicating a leak. Because helium is so rare in the atmosphere, making up only about five parts per million, any helium detected during testing likely originates from the test system itself, enhancing the accuracy of pinpointing leaks.
Beyond its size, helium is also inert, which means it won’t react or interfere with delicate components inside your assemblies. Since it diffuses quickly, it speeds up the testing process, helping engineers identify issues faster.
When Off-the-Shelf Won’t Do, We Innovate
We thrive on challenges that push us to innovate. Whether there’s a particular flow rate, pressure differential, or mix ratio involved, we’ve got the expertise and experience to deliver highly efficient gas mixing systems for any application.
Recently, we had the opportunity to work with a client who needed a high-pressure adjustable panel for helium leak detection in car radiators, where even a small leak could compromise safety, integrity and performance.
Standard gas mixing solutions wouldn’t cut it; they needed a gas mixer that could handle high pressures of up to 30 bar g and deliver a continuous, high flow of gas to ensure efficiency across their testing process.
Our team immediately got to work and saw an opportunity to modify one of our versatile GM models, known for its adaptability and performance. By customising and enhancing the unit, we were able to develop a high-pressure GM model capable of supporting helium leak detection at the required 30 bar g, all while delivering gas flows of up to 20 cubic metres per hour. This high flow rate ensured rapid, reliable leak detection without compromising on accuracy or safety.
The GM gas mixing panel we provided allowed for a predetermined mixture of helium and nitrogen at a high working pressure to be deposited into the unit in large quantities, resulting in a much better and more accurate leak test. Plus, by using our on-site helium gas mixing panel, this customer was able to ditch the costly and problematic process of using pure helium cylinders, improve quality control and minimise environmental impact.
The result was a gas mixing system that didn’t just meet the client’s needs—it exceeded them. The modified GM model allowed the client to conduct precise, high-pressure helium leak testing regularly, maintaining the accuracy and efficiency necessary for their operations. And because of our focus on durability and high-quality components, the customer knew they could rely on the unit to perform consistently, even under the most demanding circumstances.
Final thoughts
We love a happy ending and at BSL Gas Technologies, we don’t think a high-quality helium gas mixture should cost a pretty penny – or the Earth.
Because we know that no two clients are the same when it comes to gas mixing, we believe your business shouldn’t have to make do with a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to machinery. Our team of experts work with businesses of all shapes and sizes to create gas-mixing solutions for all applications. We’ve been helping customers just like this for over 25 years.
Whatever industry you’re in, you can rely on us to provide robust, adaptable equipment that leaves you with a full piece of mind. So, if you’re facing a unique challenge or have a vision for a bespoke gas mixing application, we’re here to make it happen.
To find out more about our gas mixing panels and how they work, or to chat about your business’s gas mixing needs, you can get in touch with our team today by calling +44 (0) 1634 661100 or sending us an email at solutions@bslgastech.com.
