Technology

BIP® technology cylinders are unique to Air Products; they are the only gas cylinders on the market to incorporate a self-contained purification system. The system includes a specially designed valve and purifier bed. By locating the purifier inside the cylinder, the purification process occurs at high pressure, making it dramatically more effective than external purifiers that operate at atmospheric pressure.

Lowest levels of impurities guaranteed
As low as <10 ppb total hydrocarbons, <10 ppb O₂ and <20 ppb H₂O
Eliminate the hassle and costs associated with external purifiers

The Purifier Bed

The purifier bed removes oxygen, moisture, hydrocarbons, halocarbons, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide from inert gases. Being sealed within the cylinder, the purifier is only exposed to an inert, high-pressure atmosphere.

It isn’t necessary to regenerate the purifier with every cylinder fill, so to guarantee its effectiveness, we operate a proven quality system to closely track the performance of the purifier and monitor its life cycle.

Unique valve

To protect the purifier bed from atmospheric contamination and guarantee optimal performance, the BIP® cylinder valves require two features:

A check valve (non-return valve) which protects both the purifier and the cylinder interior from any gas present at the valve outlet at a pressure higher than cylinder pressure.

The check valve also functions as a residual pressure valve. It closes when the cylinder pressure drops to about 50 psig (3 barg), always maintaining a positive pressure in the cylinder. Thus, unlike conventional cylinders, the BIP® cylinder cannot be completely emptied and the interior accidentally exposed to atmospheric O₂ and H₂O if the cylinder valve should be left open.

The BIP® cylinder valve also incorporates an additional gas flow path that is accessed by a secondary or bypass valve. This flow path connects the interior of the cylinder with the valve outlet, bypassing the flow path to the purifier, thus allowing the BIP® cylinders to be filled around the purifier and not through it.