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51 min ago 2 min read
Missouri-based industrial gas and welding equipment distributor CK Supply has completed the installation of new cryogenic bulk tanks, a liquid fill island, liquid pumps, and vaporisers for cylinder production at its new $10m Riverside, Kansas City facility.
The investment expands the company’s cylinder filling capacity and supports its growth into new regional markets. Designed to serve a 200-mile radius, the Riverside site is set to become a for the Kansas City region.
The company told gasworld that US cryogenic equipment manufacturer Chart Industries has provided three cryogenic bulk tanks with capacities of 6,000 gallons of liquid oxygen, 6,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen, and 3,000 gallons of liquid argon.
Illinois-based packaged gas specialist Weldcoa supplied the liquid fill island and cylinder liquid pumps. The installation also includes 25,000 cubic feet per hour vaporisers designed for operating pressures of 3,000 psi for oxygen service and 4,500 psi for nitrogen and argon service.
The site also includes a 50-tonne vertical carbon dioxide (CO2) tank and two pumps for filling CO2 cylinders.
An automated cylinder filling system is also being installed to streamline the filling of compressed gas cylinders for industrial, specialty gas, and fire suppression applications.
Kevin Kimker, Vice-President of Gas Operations at CK Supply, told gasworld, “For the past seven decades, we have only had one cylinder filling plant; now we will have added filling capacity and security in our compressed gases and liquid cylinder filling operations.”
“While this new fill plant is primarily for our expansion and growth into markets that are four to five hours away from our main facility [in St. Louis], it is also the best insurance policy we have ever purchased,” he added.
Dry ice
The Riverside facility houses five pieces of dry ice manufacturing equipment, capable of making up to 8,500 pounds of dry ice blocks, pellets, and rice per hour.
Company-wide, CK Supply now operates three dry ice production plants, allowing production to be shifted between sites if one facility experiences a major outage.
On-site dry ice manufacturing is supported by two 225-tonne horizontal CO2 tanks.
CK Supply is installing a CO2 recovery system to work with dry ice manufacturing equipment in Kansas City and St. Louis, capable of reclaiming and reliquefying approximately 4,000 pounds of liquid CO2 per hour.
