Can a customized experimental tube furnace be filled with gas?

Customized experimental tube furnaces can be ventilated with gas, and the gas control system is one of the core functions of this type of equipment. By designing gas pathways, flow control, and safety measures reasonably, diverse experimental needs such as oxidation, reduction, and inert protection can be met. The following is an explanation from four dimensions: technical feasibility, gas type adaptation, functional configuration, and precautions:

1. Technical feasibility: Gas pathway and sealing design
Gas pipeline layout
Dual gas path independent control: supports the diversion of inert gases (such as nitrogen and argon) and reducing gases (such as hydrogen) to avoid cross contamination.
Multi interface extension: 3-5 gas inlets can be customized to adapt to mixed atmosphere experiments (such as hydrogen nitrogen mixed gas).
Pipeline material: Made of stainless steel or corrosion-resistant alloy to ensure long-term use without leakage.
Sealing and leak proof design
Furnace body sealing: equipped with O-ring or metal sealing ring, with a vacuum degree of up to 10 ⁻ Pa, to prevent gas leakage.
Valve control: high-precision solenoid valves or mass flow controllers (MFCs) are used to achieve precise adjustment of gas on/off and flow rate.

2. Gas type adaptation: meeting diverse experimental needs
Inert gas: To prevent sample oxidation (such as metal powder sintering, ceramic annealing), it needs to be continuously introduced to ensure that the oxygen content in the furnace is ≤ 1ppm.
Reducing gas: To remove the surface oxide layer of the sample (such as hydrogen reducing metal oxides), a hydrogen purification device with a purity of ≥ 99.999% is required.
Active gas: promotes surface reactions of the sample (such as silicon nitride synthesis, carbonization), and requires control of gas concentration and reaction time to avoid excessive reactions.
Mixed gas: Simulate a specific atmosphere (such as hydrogen nitrogen mixture used for nitriding treatment), requiring precise proportioning through MFC with an error of ≤± 1%.

3. Function configuration: Customized gas control system
flow control
Mass Flow Controller (MFC): With an accuracy of ± 0.5% F.S., it supports flow regulation from 0-1000 sccm (standard milliliters per minute).
Manual flowmeter: suitable for low-cost requirements, with an accuracy of ± 3% F.S. and a flow range of 100-5000ml/min.
Atmosphere switching
Automatic switching: Controlled by PLC, the gas switching program can be pre-set (such as nitrogen gas in the sintering stage and hydrogen gas in the cooling stage).
Manual switching: equipped with quick couplings and valve groups for easy manual adjustment by experimenters.
safety protection
Hydrogen leak detection: Install hydrogen sensors that automatically cut off the gas source and sound an alarm when the concentration exceeds the standard.
Explosion proof design: The furnace body and gas circuit are made of explosion-proof materials, which automatically release pressure when the pressure exceeds the safe value.

4. Customization precautions: Ensure the reliability and safety of the gas system
Clarify experimental requirements
Determine gas type, flow range, purity requirements, and switching logic (such as single gas inlet, multi gas mixing).
Example: If a hydrogen reduction experiment is required, a customized hydrogen purification device and explosion-proof gas circuit are needed.
Choose a reliable supplier
Verify the gas system design experience of suppliers and prioritize selecting manufacturers with ISO certification and patented gas control technology.
Require suppliers to provide gas system testing reports (such as leakage rate, flow accuracy).
Operating standards and maintenance
Pre use inspection: Confirm that the gas circuit valve is closed, and perform airtightness testing on flammable gases such as hydrogen.
Regular maintenance: Check the accuracy of MFC every 6 months and replace the gas path seal ring annually to prevent aging and leakage.

5. Summary and Suggestions
The customized experimental tube furnace can fully adapt to the gas inlet requirements, and the key is:
Clearly define the gas type and flow requirements, and select matching gas path design and control components.
Pay attention to safety protection, especially the anti leakage and explosion-proof design of flammable and explosive gases such as hydrogen.
Choose professional suppliers to ensure compatibility and reliability between the gas system and the overall performance of the furnace body.
Through reasonable customization, the tube furnace can achieve precise control and safety assurance of gas injection, providing key support for high-temperature experiments.