Cylinder Storage that Provides Efficiency and Safety
In the semiconductor manufacturing environment, gasses pose the single greatest menace to safety. The shear volume of gas used besides air is reason enough for concern – never mind that gasses like chlorine and phosphene are commonly used in the fabrication process. While inert components like gas argon are used far more commonly than many more expensive and dangerous periodic table partners, the shear volume of gas inventories that must be kept on hand – inert and lethal – in itself is cause for caution.
Gas cylinder cabinets and a room separate from the manufacturing clean-room are therefore a cornerstone of the safest plant designs. For storage and for delivery, a cabinet offers an added layer of protection and versatility. From the standpoint of protection, a cabinet offers physical protection by holding cylinders securely in place and protecting them from the environment with a physical cabinet made from metal, often with a locking, tight-fitting door. Inside the cabinet, a number of censors can detect gas leaks or heat and, through an integration with on-board or off-board computers, deploy an appropriate response: the automatic deployment of sprinklers, for instance.
The flexibility of gas cylinder cabinets in the product inventory environment is optimized by automated functions that are aided by on-board computers. Computers enable the operator to change gasses and processes. And they interface with gas panels to automatically regulate the flow of gasses, automatically purge spent tanks, and can even interface with adjustable mass flow controllers for processes wherein specific volumes of gas are necessary.
From my experience as an industrial engineer for a big chip company I reccommend finding the right company to use as a resource for information about gas cabinets. Look for a company with a commitment to refurbishing depreciated technology as this is an excellent way to realize savings on equipment for production. It helps to find a company with strong relationships with the biggest vendors of gas equipment - meaning they have a wide selection of new inventory at low prices as well.
If industrial engineers could have their way, all manufacturing in semiconductor plants would demand only inert elements like gas argon. Unfortunately, the reality of today's technology is that more unstable elements are 'elemental' to the production of many of the factors that drive our productivity. With greater complexity, often comes greater danger. But responsible storage and delivery of gasses through a cabinet system can minimize hazard to employees and greatly reduce the risk of incident in operations that can result in decreased output and hurt profitability.