They are total pipe bling lol. Not as easy to field install though, that’s for sure
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easy to field instal with one of those balla ass swagelok orbital welders 
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Yeah unfortunately I am still stuck with the ole open root rig which is oh so fun on 1/2" tube lol. That or, curse the word: brazing.
There is a ferrule pressing tool that I think Parker makes for theirs but I’ve never had a chance to test drive one of those either
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Same. It all depends on the temperature and nature of media that will be flowing though them though. For low pressure stuff I typically go for the 3-piece PTFE valves.
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Sorry too busy to formulate proper response but didn’t want to ignore and also say I love o ring face seal but have no experience with them on aCLS
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Aren’t those like 50k?
What do you mean flare fittings? The valves you use don’t have NPT or compression, they have flare?
The only time I have used flare fittings are when there are NPT or tube stub or compression adaptors to a JIC or SAE or -AN thread. I didn’t know that ball, needle and gate valves, gauges, etc were available in a native flare type fitting. NPT fittings or thread tape, any where on a hydrocarbon extractor, no thank you sir.
How many thread tape fittings have you put together in your life?
How many have you taken apart to fix a leak on?
How many closed loop systems have you retaped, revalved because all the shitty Chinese valves leaked?
Also the NPT threads stretch when you tighten so you’re wearing the threads by disassembling them.
I absolutely don’t want limited use, thread-stretching, eventually-leaking, atmosphere-drawing under deep vacuum, time consuming thread tape pick-picking untaping especially on female NPTs, then brass wire brushing, then solvent cleaning, then blow drying, then thread taping, then order-of-assembly-to-check-clearance-of-things-spinning planning, then assembly, then the realizing that the second to last component is clocked wrong and must be loosened, and the thread tape you just spent five minutes cleaning prepping and applying beautiful clean thread tape to must now be cut out with a utility knife and picks and cleaned again and taped again with a different number of wraps to try and get the clocking just right as the fitting is tightened up so the valve faces the operator and can be checked quickly, easily, and safely, not the back side of the machine, so the gauge faces the operator and not the column next door.
With compression fittings I solvent clean and blow dry the fitting then assemble finger tight. I spin the gauge or valve or wherever and can even check the alignment of a 43G valve with a small level to half a degree or so because I like things perfect. Then I use two wrenches to snug the fitting around 1/4 a turn and it’s gas tight (so long as the fitting was preswaged) and we’re done. If I need to take a fitting apart and put it back together it’s literally the time it takes to clean it plus five seconds and that’s it. To reclock something is about three seconds since you just use two wrenches break it loose till the thing spins, align it, and tighten, 90% of the time you can do this with one hand and not need to even hold the gauge or valve. It’s that easy.
Multiply this one comparison times a few dozen fittings to revalve a hydrocarbon extractor (each valve has two NPT adapters to JIC usually and you can see how cleaning off and applying thread tape and just generally working with home plumbing water/sewer type fittings meant for permanent install never coming apart type of connections on a closed loop hydrocarbon extraction system where parts fail and some need to be aligned with precision is an absolutely massive waste of time and energy.
#fuckNPT. Swagelok for life. The 2 things I don’t love for our application is
A. they don’t burp easily so I always use tube stub adapters to JIC for nitrogen lines and for attaching bulk solvent tanks and other things I want to be able to burp the line of atmo easily with. Not an issue if you can align vacuum to that connection. and
B. for the same reason they don’t burp easily when you have oil in connections like column outlet etc and on dispensing valve of collection and for example if you put a sauce server on that. The stub design protruding inside traps oil pretty well and can be a pain to clean out. I like using hot ethanol whose waste then goes into distillation later someday. It’s nice to have an ultrasonic cleaner right on the other side of your extraction room door so you can just carry the hose over and get some hot warm buzzy alcohol in there to clean out the connection and then rinse and dry throughly.
I like to align all gauges on the machine so I can stand in one place and see every gauge in about 1-5 second sweep. IE all the column gauges have a slightly different angles when the center inlet, and front gauge and PRV are lined up square to the front of the machine, just so all the gauges face the operator at the exact same angle and they’re read identically, so you can quickly easily notice a slight 3 psi difference between say collection vessel and molecular sieve outlet side, which would indicate to me a slight flow restriction and beginnings of a clog forming somewhere inside the collection outlet path, or inside the molecular sieve.
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Thank you for the detailed response! I agree with a lot of your points. I definitely had to tape hundreds of threads before I could get a solid seal first try every time. The thread stretching thing seems kind of moot since the compression fittings also use threads that would stretch over time. I’m not one to just say I’m right and everyone else is wrong, I take in and value all information and try to make informed decisions, thank you for the education brotha! That’s what this place is supposed to be all about! (although I do have to say as of late it feels like this forum is just a place for everyone to flame each other)
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With a 1/4 turn on a compression fitting you really think you’re going to stretch the threads? I’ve witnessed the thread stretching on NPT fittings before and sealed the deal on me forever going compression fittings.
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In a world of infinite possibilities, I definitely think it’s possible! Especially since most techs I know don’t have a torque wrench.
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I think rentals depends on what your local swagelok franchisee offer or not . Swage brand orbitalwelders def aint cheap, ive never priced one or needed to buy. theres a welding supplier who rents em for 1300/month, some franchisees will do orbital welding for a fee. Of course the economics of which is best (rent, buy, sub out) depend on the individual situation.
Regarding NPT and flared fittings, i assume that comment is not directed at me.
I hate taping threads of any kind and try to avoid at all costs.
The VCO/VCR do have threads (BSPP), but don’t need tape cause the threads are only serving to hold the 2 fittings together, no thread tape required, the seal mechanism is an o-ring.
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Wondering if you can give a update on how it went/goes with the Hy-Lok.
Thanks
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I have three on a tank that haven’t failed me. They claim that their compression valves and fittings are made to be interchangeable with Swagelok.
http://www.ncesolutions.co.uk/file_upload/interchangeability-with-Swagelok–2-_1501796514.pdf
I’d recommend Superloks if you’re trying to save though. Best price I’ve found is through Corlee valve and fittings. USAlab marks them way up.
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Thanks for sharing!
Whats the model of valve? I am being shown the B4VAH as equivalent to SS-45TS8, but can only find any reference to the B4VH, which doesnt seem to have a low temp rating.
Thanks for the recommendation, I am north of the border so am trying to source it here or at least get prices before I reach out to Corlee!
*Hy-Lok 105 series H1B-H-8T-PK Looks like the equiv of a superlok 210 series w/peek seating.
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sounds like we need to start making valves lol
Exactly. The 105 series with peek seating would be your best option. They’re rated to -65 and they’ll handle lower temps at lower pressures. I have the blue handle swing out series. Just saw they’re only rated to -20 but I haven’t had any leaks running colder.
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The Toronto build didn’t go through. The regulation on systems were to costly to custom make. Trust me i had a few meetings with highlands to custom design what i was building to keep it by code. I dont blame Canada for being so strict but in return caused a monopoly on the market for Canadian built systems that pass regulation.
What kind of valve are you looking for (throttle or shut off/on) better yet where are you planning to install it? the valve you mentioned is for high pressure. Which is fine but your overpaying.
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I would love to see what system passes Canadian regulations, any links?
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Looking for a quality tube compression ended ball valve that doesnt leak at low temps and reasonable pressures. The standard is SS-45TS8 from swagelok, and the low cost alternative that is commonly recommended is the superlok 210 series. Which is looking more and more likely what Im going to go with from, Corlee.
Im in need of more than 20 plus a bunch of fittings, can barely afford it but I think its one of the best upgrades to a system one can make(getting away from npt threads and leaky shit valves)
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Is the only guys ive heard of, its just ETS.
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I would have sworn it was vitalis was the only approved hydrocarbon system. The CRN is the ass kicker for pricing. I could not find a master list of CRN parts to put together the system correctly.
If i remember correctly they wanted 150K for a 5LB unit XD but that luna system boyyy you finna to pay. It looks expensive af.
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