Tank farm management#

  • At any given time, at least two tanks should be hooked up to a tank farm, with green stickers designating them as in-use (i.e., with “Full” stickers removed).
  • The valve should be pointing toward the in-use tanks.
  • If the in-use tanks have low pressure (<1000 psi), then two back-up tanks should be attached and turned on.
  • When a tank is empty, remove the “in-use” sticker, disconnect it, and replace the valve cap.

Suppliers#

We purchase our main gas supply from MedTech (see below), but occasionally need to purchase equipment or specialty gasses from AirGas. Our AirGas account number is 3076751 regardless of the purchase method (HHMI funds or Harvard funds). We purchase our premix gas for the excimer laser directly from NovaGas, who is the vendor that Airgas actually subcontracts to.

Gas purchasing and delivery#

The Gas Czar is in charge of maintaining our gas cylinder stocks via Medtech at 1-781-395-1946. He will typically check the CO2 and carbogen daily, and he will place all orders. Please tell the Czar if we need more compressed air, because he does not check this regularly. Medtech keeps our credit card # on file - we just need to reference the room # and “Wilson lab”. They need to know # and type of cylinders for delivery, and # of empty cylinders for pickup. Delivery is generally within 24-48 hrs. The delivery guy generally comes in the morning. Technically, we lease the cylinders, and we purchase the gas inside the cylinders. This means it is easiest to do the accounting if you return an empty cylinder each time you order a new full cylinder. Make sure you remove the regulator from any empty cylinder and pull off the “in use” sticker so the delivery guy knows that it’s empty. Charges are (approximately):

  • leasing of cylinder: $28/cylinder/year
  • purchase of gas:
    • 5% CO2-balanced oxygen (= 95% O2+5%CO2, aka “carbogen”): $27.98/cylinder of gas
    • carbon dioxide (USP grade): $15.30/cylinder of gas
    • compressed air (USP grade) = $13.84/cylinder of gas
    • argon (industrial grade): $23.45/cylinder of gas
    • delivery fee: $5/delivery (regardless of # of cylinders in delivery)The CO2 tanks go fast, so an order should be placed within 24-48 hrs if there is only one full CO2 tank left. Orders for carbogen and compressed air should typically piggyback onto CO2 orders in order to minimize delivery fees.
Backward Halo Tag Ligands Fly Holders Forward