Helium plays an indispensable role in several industrial processes, with high-power welding being one of the most notable applications. Known for its inert properties, helium is essential in creating a stable environment during welding, particularly for high-power laser welding and when working with thick materials. However, the increasing cost and limited availability of helium make its efficient use and recovery a growing concern for industries that rely heavily on this noble gas. At VES, we understand the need for sustainable helium management, and our PURE Helium Recovery System offers an advanced solution that addresses these challenges, particularly in the context of high-power welding.
The Role of Helium in High-Power Welding
Helium is widely used in welding due to its superior heat transfer properties and its ability to produce cleaner welds with less spatter compared to other shielding gases. In high-power laser welding, where precise control over the welding environment is required, helium helps maintain a stable plasma formation and prevents contamination of the weld pool. Its high thermal conductivity allows for deeper penetration, making it especially effective for welding thicker materials such as stainless steel, aluminium, and titanium.
The downside, however, is that helium is one of the more expensive and scarce gases, with prices steadily rising due to global shortages. This places significant pressure on industries that use helium in large quantities, such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and heavy industries. These sectors often face challenges in managing helium supplies efficiently, leading to wastage during the welding process. Implementing a helium recovery system can dramatically reduce these costs while ensuring a consistent supply of this essential gas.
Helium Challenges in High-Power Welding
Despite its benefits, helium consumption in high-power welding can be incredibly inefficient without the proper recovery systems in place. Typically, helium used as a shielding gas is vented into the atmosphere after each welding cycle, which leads to significant losses. Over time, these losses add up, increasing the operational costs for manufacturers who rely on helium to maintain the integrity of their welding processes.
This challenge is further compounded by the growing global demand for helium across multiple industries, from healthcare to electronics, resulting in price volatility and occasional shortages. Without a sustainable helium management strategy, welding operations are left vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and escalating expenses, potentially affecting production schedules and profitability.
The VES PURE System
Our PURE Helium Recovery System is designed to address these issues head-on by offering a solution that captures, purifies, and reuses helium in industrial processes such as high-power welding. Instead of allowing helium to escape into the atmosphere after use, PURE captures the gas, purifies it to a high concentration, and reintroduces it into the system for continued use. This process not only reduces the need for fresh helium but also ensures that welding operations are more sustainable and cost-effective over time.
One of the key advantages of PURE is its adaptability. Whether a manufacturer is operating a single welding station or managing multiple high-power welding lines, the PURE system can be customised to fit the scale of the operation. This modularity ensures that manufacturers can optimise helium usage based on their specific production requirements without over-investing in unnecessary infrastructure. Furthermore, the system is designed for seamless integration, minimising downtime during installation and allowing businesses to quickly benefit from helium savings.
Cost Savings and Efficiency Gains
Implementing PURE can lead to substantial cost savings for welding operations. By recovering and reusing helium, manufacturers can reduce their helium consumption by up to 90%, depending on their usage patterns. Given the high costs associated with purchasing helium, this reduction can have a significant impact on the bottom line, allowing companies to reinvest those savings into other areas of production or innovation.
Additionally, PURE improves overall process efficiency. With a consistent supply of high-purity helium, welding operations can maintain the quality and precision required for high-power laser applications. The system also reduces the need for frequent helium deliveries, helping to streamline logistics and reduce the environmental footprint associated with gas transportation.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Beyond the financial benefits, the PURE Helium Recovery System also supports a more sustainable approach to helium usage. Helium is a non-renewable resource, and its conservation is crucial to ensuring that industries that depend on it, such as healthcare, electronics, and manufacturing, can continue to operate without disruption. By recovering and reusing helium, manufacturers can contribute to global efforts to conserve this valuable resource, ensuring that it remains available for future generations.
From an environmental perspective, PURE reduces the carbon footprint of helium usage by minimising the need for fresh gas extraction and transport. Helium is typically sourced from natural gas fields, and its extraction and refinement are energy-intensive processes. By reducing the demand for new helium, PURE helps alleviate some of the environmental pressures associated with its production.
Future-Proofing Welding Operations
As industries become more conscious of both costs and sustainability, the ability to recover and reuse helium will become increasingly important. In the context of high-power welding, where helium is often consumed in large quantities, adopting a helium recovery system like PURE is not just a cost-saving measure but also a strategic investment in the future of manufacturing.
