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AGM Container Controls, Inc.
Company Description
AGM Container Controls leads in the design and fabrication of products that control and monitor moisture (desiccators, humidity indicators), pressure and vacuum changes (breather valves) and shock and vibration (tie downs, shock overload indicators). These products are used for a variety of applications in defense and aerospace, electronic, electro-optical, industrial and commercial markets to protect and extend the life of critical equipment. AGM distributes the NEPS1000 ADVANTAGE, the latest development for improving the effective use of dry nitrogen. The NEPS purges electronic, optical, high voltage laser systems, and equipment requiring gas drying and inhibiting of oxygen. It’s designed to maximize the dry gas purging process for humidity removal with a host of capabilities. NEPS1000 ADVANTAGE is fully self-contained. Simply connect a dry gas source to the inlet connection and the equipment port, and it’s ready to operate. One of the NEPS benefits is its use of the purge gas used for purging. By using a single pipe connection the purge gas is controlled and dispersed throughout the instrument being purged. During depressurization, the purge gas is isolated. The NEPS1000 ADVANTAGE has easy-to-use selectable programming, which can be set to view process control values and display dewpoint measurements in ºC or ºF with pressure in Kpa or psi. Highly visible liquid crystal displays provide constant information and readouts during use.
Contact Information
 3526 E Fort Lowell Rd
Tucson,AZ
United States
Press Releases
| Nitrogen Purging: Manufacturers Eliminate Disruptive Moisture from Optoelectronic Systems to Prevent Fogging and Corrosion
Any residual moisture within the internal cavity or enclosure of an optoelectronic system put into field service can serve as a ticking time bomb of sorts, providing the potential for disruptive condensation that can fog mirrors and lenses, effectively “blinding” the equipment in potentially critical situations. Condensation also causes corrosion, which is just as destructive as fogging, and affects performance and shortens the lifespan of a system.
Optoelectronic systems are used in both commercial and military applications, where they are often mounted on aircraft, helicopters or even missiles and transported at high elevations. The extremely low temperatures along with the low atmospheric pressure at the high altitudes to which these systems are subjected can cause condensation when minimal moisture is present. Even the minimal amount of moisture contained in circuit boards can lead to problems.
With so much at stake, manufacturers of laser, imaging, camera and other optical-based systems are increasingly mandating a nitrogen purge to figuratively wring the moisture out of enclosures and cavities before these systems are put into the field.
In a nitrogen purge, ultra dry nitrogen with a dew point of -94°F (-70°C) is introduced under pressure into an enclosure or cavity in order to remove moisture and water vapor, creating a much drier internal environment than standard desiccant can achieve. Nitrogen purging is accomplished through commercially available purging systems or custom-built systems created by the very engineers designing the product itself.
“The concept of a nitrogen purge is essentially to ‘squeeze’ the internal components like a sponge to remove any residual humidity or moisture out of the system and then seal it to keep the internal cavity moisture-free during its operational life,” says Paul Ave of Advanced Laser Systems Technology, a division of L3 Communications.
Advanced Laser Systems Technology designs and manufactures lasers and laser range finding systems for the government and military. Its products are found in a variety of systems, including handheld man-portable thermal imagers, long range surveillance systems, gimbal systems on both manned and unmanned aircraft, major combatant naval vessels, small attack craft, attack class submarine periscopes, and on space craft.
The stringent dryness requirements for these products mandate that Advanced Laser Systems Technology must evacuate moisture from the laser cavity utilizing a nitrogen purge. The company purges approximately 100 units each month.
According to Ave, corrosion would be a primary concern in terms of long term reliability, but internal moisture can also affect the performance of a laser.
“Most lasers—particularly high powered lasers—require nitrogen purging,” says Ave. “If the coatings on the optics or the prescription of the optics are altered in any way as a result of either contamination or moisture, it can dramatically affect performance.”
Hygroscopic Components
According to Ave, it is a common misconception that the majority of the moisture in a sealed cavity or enclosure is contained in the empty volume of air. In fact, the majority of the moisture is contained in the hygroscopic materials, such as common circuit boards or other plastic components within the enclosure.
Hygroscopic plastics readily absorb moisture from the atmosphere and can release that moisture under temperature cycling and other environmental factors.
“We found the internal electronics were the main culprit for a lot of residual moisture,” explains Ave. “If you don’t take care of that moisture with a nitrogen purge, we would see it manifest as humidity and moisture inside the unit during temp cycle testing.”
Commercially Available Purging Systems – Single versus Dual Purge
One major differentiator in commercially available nitrogen purge systems is the choice between single point and dual point purge systems. Traditional purge systems are typically dual point, with ultra-dry nitrogen entering through one port and exiting out another.
“The old school method is to just run nitrogen through the system, usually at an elevated temperature, where you’re essentially trying to bake out any moisture,” says Ave.
Unfortunately, many dual point purging systems lack any real means of quantification in relation to internal dew point. Even if a dew point sensor is used to quantify the out flowing gas, it is possible to return later and discover a dew point spike because hygroscopic materials within the enclosure released additional moisture after the purge.
“With the dual purge method, I had no quantitative way to know what my acceptable dew point was or when I had achieved it. If I purged a unit for 6 to 8 hours, I had to assume it had thoroughly dried out the cavity,” says Ave.
Another potential problem with a dual point purge system is that as the gas flows through from the entrance to exit, it creates a “channel” of gas. Weaker eddies of gas must be relied upon to penetrate beyond the main flow path to reach into the cracks, crevices or other pockets. Therefore, the moisture in the internal air or the hygroscopic internal components may not be completely removed.
A single point nitrogen purging system, on the other hand, offers several advantages. Because it involves only one exit/entry port, a single point system creates a pressurized environment for the ultra-dry gas and allows for quantifiable measurement of the dew point on exit. This type of system appears to eliminate the concern over completely drying out the whole system.
While at Advanced Laser Systems Technology, Ave discovered a single point purge system from AGM Container Controls of Arizona. AGM offers a variety of products for the control and monitoring of moisture, including desiccators and humidity indicators. The company also offers several models (portable, rack mounted) of nitrogen enhanced purging systems (NEPS).
With the NEPS unit, dry gas—typically nitrogen—enters the cavity or enclosure through a single port and is pressurized to a pre-determined PSI before a valve opens and the gas backflows back into the unit. There it passes a dew point monitor and displays the current dew point temperature. The nitrogen is then vented to the atmosphere and a new cycle commences. This cycling continues until the equipment reaches the required dew point level at which point it automatically shuts off.
“The NEPS system is easy to use,” says Ave. “You hook it up to a single port, select a pressure setting and desired final dew point, and when the purge is completed the system turns off automatically. For us, it streamlined operations.”
With proper quantification and the automatic shut off feature when the desired dew point is achieved, Ave reports a significant saving in nitrogen costs, as well as a significant saving in time of purge.
“On a typical unit using the old school method, a nitrogen purge would take 6 to 8 hours,” explains Ave. “With the NEPS system, we could do the same purge in 45 minutes, so significantly less volumes of nitrogen are used and we know for sure when we are done. It not only saved money, but was a major timesaver.”
For more info, call 1-800-995-5590 or 520-881-2130; visit www.agmcontainer.com; email sales@agmcontainer.com; or write to AGM Container Controls, Inc. at 3526 East Fort Lowell Road, Tucson, AZ 85716. |
| Nitrogen Enhanced Purge System Maximizes Purge Gas Drying Efficiency
Tucson, AZ. Our Nitrogen Enhanced Purging System (NEPS) technology is a single-point purge system that pressurizes equipment or enclosures with dry gas to remove moisture from the airspace and from the hygroscopic materials contained in the equipment. This provides a more thorough and efficient purge as compared to a traditional dual-point or through purge when the dry gas will typically follow the path of least resistance from the entry to exit point of the equipment. The NEPS has three pressure settings (1.5, 2.5 and 5.0 PSI). Once programmed, the NEPS will pressurize the equipment with dry gas to the predetermined setting and then automatically reverse the air flow back through the NEPS where an embedded dew point sensor measures and displays the dew point temperature of the air which is then vented through an exhaust port on the NEPS. This cycling repeats itself until the air achieves the desired dew point temperature. The system then automatically stops the purging cycle.
With the addition of a remote dew point sensor, the NEPS dew point “stat” feature can be programmed to allow the dew point temperature of the air to degrade a specified amount and then automatically re-start the purging cycle. This feature ensures that the purge has eliminated the moisture from the hygroscopic materials in the equipment as well as the moisture contained in the airspace. The dew point “stat” feature may also be used to quantify process improvements aimed at eliminating moisture ingress during the manufacturing process and to establish the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the equipment. Other features include an equipment leak test function and the ability to test the dryness of the source gas.
Most dual-point purging is done without any way to quantify the results. Quite often, the purge removes the moisture from the airspace, but is not performed in a manner to ensure the removal of the majority of the moisture, which is contained in the hygroscopic materials in the equipment. The NEPS system eliminates this guesswork and provides an efficient and effective purge which will reduce the amount of dry gas expended, extend the life of the desiccant (if used), reduce maintenance cycles and provide greater protection to your equipment.
The NEPS 1000 is easy to install. It minimizes purge gas usage, maximizes purge gas drying efficiency and measures the dryness of the purge gas. It is compatible for use with a range of dry gases (i.e., nitrogen, dry air, argon and SF6 gases) and is suitable for use with pipeline and continuous dryers.
The Nitrogen Enhanced Purge System (NEPS 1000) is portable and can be easily bench mounted if desired. Features include: tube connections for inlet, outlet and exhaust ports; a digital dew-point indicator; a pressure gauge; and 3 pressure settings– all controlled with a built-in microprocessor. Relief valve protection is included to prevent system or equipment over-pressurization.
The NEPS 1000 is ideal for transit and mobile applications. The unit dimensions are approximately 19" (483 mm) x 15" (381 mm) x 7.5" (190 mm). The unit weighs approximately 18 lbs. (8 kg) without the gas tank.
Other NEPS models available include a 19" rack mount version and dual voltage pumped units with a self-contained desiccant compartment for field service applications when a dry air source is not readily available. |
| Nitrogen Purging: Manufacturers Eliminate Disruptive Moisture from Optoelectronic Systems to Prevent Fogging and Corrosion
Any residual moisture within the internal cavity or enclosure of an optoelectronic system put into field service can serve as a ticking time bomb of sorts, providing the potential for disruptive condensation that can fog mirrors and lenses, effectively “blinding” the equipment in potentially critical situations. Condensation also causes corrosion, which is just as destructive as fogging, and affects performance and shortens the lifespan of a system.
Optoelectronic systems are used in both commercial and military applications, where they are often mounted on aircraft, helicopters or even missiles and transported at high elevations. The extremely low temperatures along with the low atmospheric pressure at the high altitudes to which these systems are subjected can cause condensation when minimal moisture is present. Even the minimal amount of moisture contained in circuit boards can lead to problems.
With so much at stake, manufacturers of laser, imaging, camera and other optical-based systems are increasingly mandating a nitrogen purge to figuratively wring the moisture out of enclosures and cavities before these systems are put into the field.
In a nitrogen purge, ultra dry nitrogen with a dew point of -94°F (-70°C) is introduced under pressure into an enclosure or cavity in order to remove moisture and water vapor, creating a much drier internal environment than standard desiccant can achieve. Nitrogen purging is accomplished through commercially available purging systems or custom-built systems created by the very engineers designing the product itself.
“The concept of a nitrogen purge is essentially to ‘squeeze’ the internal components like a sponge to remove any residual humidity or moisture out of the system and then seal it to keep the internal cavity moisture-free during its operational life,” says Paul Ave of Advanced Laser Systems Technology, a division of L3 Communications.
Advanced Laser Systems Technology designs and manufactures lasers and laser range finding systems for the government and military. Its products are found in a variety of systems, including handheld man-portable thermal imagers, long range surveillance systems, gimbal systems on both manned and unmanned aircraft, major combatant naval vessels, small attack craft, attack class submarine periscopes, and on space craft.
The stringent dryness requirements for these products mandate that Advanced Laser Systems Technology must evacuate moisture from the laser cavity utilizing a nitrogen purge. The company purges approximately 100 units each month.
According to Ave, corrosion would be a primary concern in terms of long term reliability, but internal moisture can also affect the performance of a laser.
“Most lasers—particularly high powered lasers—require nitrogen purging,” says Ave. “If the coatings on the optics or the prescription of the optics are altered in any way as a result of either contamination or moisture, it can dramatically affect performance.”
Hygroscopic Components
According to Ave, it is a common misconception that the majority of the moisture in a sealed cavity or enclosure is contained in the empty volume of air. In fact, the majority of the moisture is contained in the hygroscopic materials, such as common circuit boards or other plastic components within the enclosure.
Hygroscopic plastics readily absorb moisture from the atmosphere and can release that moisture under temperature cycling and other environmental factors.
“We found the internal electronics were the main culprit for a lot of residual moisture,” explains Ave. “If you don’t take care of that moisture with a nitrogen purge, we would see it manifest as humidity and moisture inside the unit during temp cycle testing.”
Commercially Available Purging Systems – Single versus Dual Purge
One major differentiator in commercially available nitrogen purge systems is the choice between single point and dual point purge systems. Traditional purge systems are typically dual point, with ultra-dry nitrogen entering through one port and exiting out another.
“The old school method is to just run nitrogen through the system, usually at an elevated temperature, where you’re essentially trying to bake out any moisture,” says Ave.
Unfortunately, many dual point purging systems lack any real means of quantification in relation to internal dew point. Even if a dew point sensor is used to quantify the out flowing gas, it is possible to return later and discover a dew point spike because hygroscopic materials within the enclosure released additional moisture after the purge.
“With the dual purge method, I had no quantitative way to know what my acceptable dew point was or when I had achieved it. If I purged a unit for 6 to 8 hours, I had to assume it had thoroughly dried out the cavity,” says Ave.
Another potential problem with a dual point purge system is that as the gas flows through from the entrance to exit, it creates a “channel” of gas. Weaker eddies of gas must be relied upon to penetrate beyond the main flow path to reach into the cracks, crevices or other pockets. Therefore, the moisture in the internal air or the hygroscopic internal components may not be completely removed.
A single point nitrogen purging system, on the other hand, offers several advantages. Because it involves only one exit/entry port, a single point system creates a pressurized environment for the ultra-dry gas and allows for quantifiable measurement of the dew point on exit. This type of system appears to eliminate the concern over completely drying out the whole system.
While at Advanced Laser Systems Technology, Ave discovered a single point purge system from AGM Container Controls of Arizona. AGM offers a variety of products for the control and monitoring of moisture, including desiccators and humidity indicators. The company also offers several models (portable, rack mounted) of nitrogen enhanced purging systems (NEPS).
With the NEPS unit, dry gas—typically nitrogen—enters the cavity or enclosure through a single port and is pressurized to a pre-determined PSI before a valve opens and the gas backflows back into the unit. There it passes a dew point monitor and displays the current dew point temperature. The nitrogen is then vented to the atmosphere and a new cycle commences. This cycling continues until the equipment reaches the required dew point level at which point it automatically shuts off.
“The NEPS system is easy to use,” says Ave. “You hook it up to a single port, select a pressure setting and desired final dew point, and when the purge is completed the system turns off automatically. For us, it streamlined operations.”
With proper quantification and the automatic shut off feature when the desired dew point is achieved, Ave reports a significant saving in nitrogen costs, as well as a significant saving in time of purge.
“On a typical unit using the old school method, a nitrogen purge would take 6 to 8 hours,” explains Ave. “With the NEPS system, we could do the same purge in 45 minutes, so significantly less volumes of nitrogen are used and we know for sure when we are done. It not only saved money, but was a major timesaver.” |
| Nitrogen Enhanced Purge System Maximizes Purge Gas Drying Ef
Our Nitrogen Enhanced Purging System (NEPS) technology is a single-point purge system that pressurizes equipment or enclosures with dry gas to remove moisture from the airspace and from the hygroscopic materials contained in the equipment. This provides a more thorough and efficient purge as compared to a traditional dual-point or through purge when the dry gas will typically follow the path of least resistance from the entry to exit point of the equipment. The NEPS has three pressure settings (1.5, 2.5 and 5.0 PSI). Once programmed, the NEPS will pressurize the equipment with dry gas to the predetermined setting and then automatically reverse the air flow back through the NEPS where an embedded dew point sensor measures and displays the dew point temperature of the air which is then vented through an exhaust port on the NEPS. This cycling repeats itself until the air achieves the desired dew point temperature. The system then automatically stops the purging cycle.
With the addition of a remote dew point sensor, the NEPS dew point “stat” feature can be programmed to allow the dew point temperature of the air to degrade a specified amount and then automatically re-start the purging cycle. This feature ensures that the purge has eliminated the moisture from the hygroscopic materials in the equipment as well as the moisture contained in the airspace. The dew point “stat” feature may also be used to quantify process improvements aimed at eliminating moisture ingress during the manufacturing process and to establish the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the equipment. Other features include an equipment leak test function and the ability to test the dryness of the source gas.
Most dual-point purging is done without any way to quantify the results. Quite often, the purge removes the moisture from the airspace, but is not performed in a manner to ensure the removal of the majority of the moisture, which is contained in the hygroscopic materials in the equipment. The NEPS system eliminates this guesswork and provides an efficient and effective purge which will reduce the amount of dry gas expended, extend the life of the desiccant (if used), reduce maintenance cycles and provide greater protection to your equipment.
The NEPS 1000 is easy to install. It minimizes purge gas usage, maximizes purge gas drying efficiency and measures the dryness of the purge gas. It is compatible for use with a range of dry gases (i.e., nitrogen, dry air, argon and SF6 gases) and is suitable for use with pipeline and continuous dryers.
The Nitrogen Enhanced Purge System (NEPS 1000) is portable and can be easily bench mounted if desired. Features include: tube connections for inlet, outlet and exhaust ports a digital dew-point indicator a pressure gauge and 3 pressure settings– all controlled with a built-in microprocessor. Relief valve protection is included to prevent system or equipment over-pressurization.
The NEPS 1000 is ideal for transit and mobile applications. The unit dimensions are approximately 19" (483 mm) x 15" (381 mm) x 7.5" (190 mm). The unit weighs approximately 18 lbs. (8 kg) without the gas tank.
Other NEPS models available include a 19" rack mount version and dual voltage pumped units with a self-contained desiccant compartment for field service applications when a dry air source is not readily available. |
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