bfesser
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Supelco Carrier Gas Purifier as Mini Tube Furnace
I recently picked up a used Supelco "Carrier Gas Purifier" from a local surplus shop for around $14 (I think... their pricing depends on the cashier's
mood sometimes). The sticker says that it's catalog number 2-3800, 115 V, 60 Hz, 90W. There's what appears to be a steel tube in it right now,
presumably with a catalyst inside, but I plan to dispose of that.
Any thoughts on it's use as a mini tube furnace? Has anyone here tried this before? Can it achieve suitable temperatures for such operations as the
production of ketene (http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=7447)? I like that it has a clamshell design--could maybe use it with custom blown
apparatus to eliminate troublesome joints, as any tube doesn't need to be slid through.
I looked at some Supelco documents about the benefits of using one of these to purify carrier gas for GC, but couldn't find anything that said
specifically what the catalyst or absorbant/adsorbant in the tube is. Does anyone have any ideas on that?
The surplus shop had several of these, so if anyone's interested, I might be able to get one for you at cost+shipping (they all looked about
the same, except some had power switches and some did not, so I wouldn't be able to guarantee the same model).
I'll see if I can post some pictures tomorrow when the lighting's better.
[Edited on 9/26/08 by bfesser]
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bfesser
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It looks exactly like <a
href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Supelco-Carrier-Gas-Purifier-Tube-Furnace-Marshell_W0QQitemZ290259215154QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116">this one
from eBay</a>, except a bit dirtier on the inside.
Catalyst tube looks identical to the one in <a
href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Supelco-Carrier-Gas-Purifier-Model-2-3800-W-Tube_W0QQitemZ260286351381QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116">this
auction</a>.
[Edited on 9/26/08 by bfesser]
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not_important
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That product is listed as being for CO, CO2, H2O, and O2 removal., and as being compatible with He, N2, Ar, and Ar/CH4, but not H2.
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/Brands/Supelco_Home.html
This suggests some fairly reactive metal that combines with the oxygen in the removed gases, plus something sops up hydrogen, but does not react to N2
under operating conditions.
Another similar product states it uses Zr-V-Fe alloy, with a temperature gradient of 390 at the inlet to 180 at the exit, the drop in temperature is
so that H2 is captured by the alloy. See http://www.vici.com/support/manuals/hp2.pdf
..
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Sauron
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I would advise against this.
Tube fornaces even on a bench scale usually require high heat (mine is 1100 C) and a decent dwell time as dictate by length and flow rate. The design
is primarily influenced by the nature of the reaction but ferrous alloys are unlikely. Unless your item is Monel.
It's a GC accessory so carrier gas means N2 and this is designed to scrub O2 and/or moisture, I'd guess. Leave it alone, you might need it some day.
If you need a tube furnace they are available on the used market and often cheap. They are also easy to bui;ld. Several members have built their own.
If memory serves, fleaker, len1 and garage chemist have. I have a commercial Thermolyne one 12" x 2" which is shorter and fatter than typical. 24" is
more typical and half inch to 1 inch bore.
Sic gorgeamus a los subjectatus nunc.
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Texium
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Thread Moved
19-11-2023 at 12:37 |
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