The Advantages of a Fully Automatic Versus a Semiautomatic Gas Manifold

The success of research projects conducted in a life sciences lab, as well as the survival of the invaluable biological samples that work produces, hinges on having a continuous supply of gas, at a consistent pressure. As a result, it is critical for lab teams to minimize the chance of an emergency, particularly a situation in which they unexpectedly run out of gas. By utilizing a gas manifold system, you can reduce the likelihood of a devastating and costly interruption of gas supply to your lab’s cryogenic freezers, CO2 incubators, mass spectrometers, and other gas-use instrumentation.

What Is a Gas Manifold System?

A gas manifold utilizes multiple cylinders or liquid dewars to ensure you maintain a continuous supply of gas and do not run out. The manifold is typically installed above your lab’s high-pressure cylinders or liquid dewars. It is connected to the cylinders or dewars with flexible hoses. Once connected, the manifold monitors the gas and pressure levels in your containers. When the gas cylinders or dewars on the primary bank (or side) of the manifold are empty, the manifold system automatically switches over to the full cylinders/dewars on the reserve bank, eliminating any downtime of the gas supply.

Even for a relatively new life sciences venture, a gas manifold system may be a wise investment due to its additional volume capabilities and reliability. However, not all gas manifold systems offer the same level of automation. So, before investing in this technology, it’s important to consider the similarities and differences between the two main types of manifolds: semiautomatic and fully automatic.

Comparing a Semiautomatic to a Fully Automatic Gas Manifold

Both types of manifolds switch over automatically. Additionally, both require a human operator (e.g., a lab technician or facility/building manager) to physically replace depleted gas tanks with new tanks after a switchover occurs.

However, with semiautomatic manifolds, there is an additional step an operator will need to take after the automatic bank changeover. This person must remember to reset the manifold by turning the “in-service” knob so the arrow on it faces the bank of cylinders/dewars that is now providing the gas supply. There is a good chance a lab’s gas supply will run out if this step is overlooked. It will also be unclear to anyone looking at the manifold gauges which side was last running. While it may seem minor, this extra manual step opens the door for human error that could lead to your lab running out of gas.

Fully automatic manifolds, on the other hand, do not require any additional operator interaction. Instead, the manifold automatically switches back and forth between banks without the need for a knob turn.

Other Key Advantages of the Fully Automatic Manifold

In addition, a fully automatic system offers many advantages that are not found in a semiautomatic system, including:

• It has an easy-to-read digital display. Anyone in the lab can quickly assess what is happening with the gas supply, including which bank of the manifold is in use, the gas pressure levels of both banks, and if any issue, such as a leak, is indicated.
• It alerts you in multiple ways when a switchover or an issue has occurred. The fully automatic manifold has a built-in alarm that sounds—with an extremely loud buzzing noise—when the manifold switches from one bank to the other and it’s time to replace empty tanks. In addition, an email alert goes out to anyone on the team that should be notified of a switchover. This can be a particularly important safety feature to have in place over a weekend or holiday when there may not be anyone in the lab to hear an alarm. As an additional precautionary measure, the switchover alarm can be connected to a building’s alarm system, so the facility manager will also be notified when a changeover occurs. Finally, the alarm will also be triggered if certain issues arise, including a fluctuation in the delivery pressure that goes well above or below desired pressure. While you can add an alarm to a semiautomatic manifold at an additional cost, it is unlikely to have all the key safety features of a fully automatic manifold system.
• It is designed to allow a simple transition from cylinders to liquid dewars. As your lab grows, your gas requirements are likely to increase right along with it. With a fully automatic manifold, you’ll be well positioned to transition from cylinders to liquid dewars when your business demands it because the system settings are easily modified. Conversely, if you have a semiautomatic manifold, this type of change could be more complicated. It usually requires the manifold to be shut down and sent back to the manufacturer for reconfiguration, which could leave you trying to find an alternate way to sustain your lab’s gas supply.

The following chart summarizes many of the key differences between a fully automatic and semiautomatic manifold system.