FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dear customer,
Welcome to our frequently asked question page. If you have any doubts about correct use or repair of any GCE product and the problem is not stated below, please do not hesitate to contact us.
GENERAL
What wrench should I use to connect the inlet connection of pressure regulator to the gas cylinder?
If there is hard elastomer with flat sealing on the inlet connection - use wrench.
If there is soft o-ring on the inlet connection - screw by hand.
I am the end user of VIPR; Can I connect, test or use the filling connector?
No. End users of VIPR must not remove plut (nut) from the filling port.
My gas equipment has a missing or a broken gauge (or any other component). I have found a similar one in the shop, can I exchange it?
No. You have to use the original GCE components. Contact your GCE distributor or our Technical Support team for help.
What is the maximal limit I can use my gauge for if it has scale up to 315 bar?
Maximal working pressure of your gauge is 200 bar. There is a red line marked on 2/3 of every gauge indicating the maximal working pressure.
What is the maximal outlet pressure of VIPR?
Maximal outlet pressure of VIPR is: 10 bar for Oxygen, < 1,5 bar for Acetylene and 25l/min for Ar/CO2.
Can I exchange inner parts of filling port due to leakage?
No. Maintenance of combination valve can be only done by a trained person. For more information about available trainings - see the available trainings chapter and/or contact our technical customer support.
Who can carry out service and maintenance on medical Combination valves or Pressure regulators?
For details about service and maintenance always see your Instruction for Use. It may vary according to the used product. Most of these procedures must be done by an authorized service only.
Can I continue using a gauge if the transparent label on the gauge window is lost?
No. The transparent label prevents entering of humidity and impurities into the gauge via the venting holes.
MEDICAL ONLY
What is the maximal closing torque for Shut-off valve?
This information can be found in your Instruction for use, it varies according to product you have. For Combilite the maximal closing torque is 3Nm.
What is the operating temparature range for Combilite?
For details about service and maintenance always see your Instruction for Use. It may vary according to the used product. For Combilite it is from -20°C to +60°C.
INDUSTRIAL ONLY
Can I use 10 bar outlet reducer with acetylene?
No. Maximal outlet pressure of acetylene regulator shall not exceed 1,5 bar. You should always read Instruction for Use and follow marking on the regulator where it is stated what gas and pressure range the regulator is intended for.
What type of sealing should I use for gauges on acetylene regulators?
Use aluminum sealing only because copper in contact with acetylene causes an explosive reaction.
What is the maximal working and testing pressure of a cylinder valve? Where can I find this information?
Working pressure is marked on the body of regulator - ex. "200 bar" (for marking details - see Instruction for Use). Testing pressure is not marked on the product, it is 1,2x higher than the working pressure.
Can I use flashback arrestor FR 50 for acetylene also for propane or hydrogen?
Yes. But the maximal outlet pressure of the used regulator must be under 5 bar.
Can I use oxygen gauge instead of a neutral gauge for neutral regulator?
Yes. But you must not use it back for an oxygen regulator.
Can I use nozzle mix cutter with natural gas?
Yes. But you may only reuse it for this type of gas.
Can I use a regulator in Germany if it was bought in France?
No. You must not use a regulator bought in France in Germany as the national standards for cylinder connections are different.
Can I use flashback arrestor FR34 for a regulator?
Yes. But you must use the version for regulators.
HIGH PURITY ONLY
The membrane of the regulators and valves series 500, 400, 3100, 320 is made of HASTELLOY, what kind of material is it ?
HASTELLOY® C-276 alloy is a nickel-molybdenum-chromium wrought alloy that is generally considered a versatile corrosion-resistant alloy. This alloy resists the formation of grain-boundary precipitates in the weld heat-affected zone, thus making it suitable for most chemical process applications in the as-welded condition. C-276 alloy has excellent resistance to localized corrosion and to both oxidizing and reducing media.
HASTELLOY C-276 alloy has excellent resistance to a wide variety of chemical process environments, including strong oxidizers such as ferric and cupric chlorides, hot contaminated media (organic and inorganic), chlorine, formic and acetic acids, acetic anhydride, and seawater and brine solutions. C-276 alloy has excellent resistance to pitting and to stress-corrosion cracking. It is also one of the few materials that withstands the corrosive effects of wet chlorine gas, hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide.
Can we use the same pressure regulator for a few different gas types?
It is not recommended, if you are doing it is on your own risk.
- we are choosing material combination for each and every gas type separately
- gas remains from previous and new gas may create both physical and chemical mixture. It could lead again to failure of pressure device
- our pressure devices are specially cleaned. Coming in contact with particular gas types they are contaminated, which makes them not any longer suitable for HP service
- in most of the cases the customer has to change cylinder connector and/or fitting what generates extra particles and impurities in system causing pressure device failure. You need trained personal to conduct this action.
- we can not asset behavior of different gas mixtures on customer side since we are not familiar with process details and gas conditions. It is not possible to have data base for all gas mixtures running on the market at present time.
