Gases for Life - Messer Group

Issue 03 | September 2011www.messergroup.comGases for LifeThe industrial gases magazineGases make beverages sparkle and keep them fresh for longerPleasant, invigoratingand extremely usefulAircraft construction:Baking carbon fibresand saving keroseneHeating element production:Perfect lookfor hidden helpersDouble-glazed windows:Benefits of gasin glass

EditorialDear Readers,You have before you the first summer issue of “Gases forLife”. In it, we look at a subject that is inextricably linked withsummer refreshment, namely sparkling cool drinks – no matterif the summer of 2011 has been hiding behind grey cloudsnow and then.It is carbon dioxide in soft drinks, mineral water and beer thatcreates this inimitable tingling sensation on the tongue. Butthere are also other gases and gas applications that play a partin ensuring every sip is enjoyable: nitrogen and carbon dioxideprotect beverages against unwanted oxidation throughoutprocessing; a single drop of nitrogen gives a PET bottle thenecessary stability for handling; dry ice pellets produced withthe help of CO 2 are used to cool grapes immediately after harvesting,while carbon dioxide delays the start of the fermentationprocess, which has a decisive bearing on a wine’s aroma.The subject of “cryosaunas” is also appropriate for summer.Instead of hot conditions, these involve extreme cold of -140degrees Celsius. The low temperatures produced by nitrogenform the basis of the treatment called cryotherapy, which allowsthe human body to recover more quickly from strenuousexertion or shock. Pain, too, can be alleviated by spending ashort time in a cryosauna.If you are planning to fly somewhere to escape a rather coolsummer, then this too will involve the use of products thathave been manufactured with the help of Messer gases. Inthis case, we are talking about ultra-light carbon fibre aircraftcomponents that have been “baked” in a protective atmosphereconsisting of nitrogen.This summer, Stefan Messer (centre) welcomed colleagues fromall over the world who were visiting the modern industrial gasesexhibition at the new company headquarters in Bad Soden.With this in mind, I wish you an enjoyable summer whereveryou are.Best wishesStefan Messer2 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

ContentsCover Story10 Pleasant, invigoratingand extremely usefulCover photo:Refreshing – MonikaLammertz, ManagerApplication TechnologyFood at Messer,enjoys a Coke withthe tingling sparkleprovided by carbondioxide.Even the ancients liked mineral water whose fine bubblescaused a pleasant tingling sensation on the tongue. This tinglingis caused by carbon dioxide. Today, many other gases besidesCO 2 are used to preserve the character and quality of beveragesduring processing, filling and serving.Practical Focus6 Baking carbon fibres andsaving keroseneThe fact that modern commercial aircraft use ever-decreasingamounts of fuel while also making less and less noise is partlydue to the use of carbon fibre composites for fuselage and wingcomponents. They are finished in autoclaves, where nitrogen isused for fire protection.Green Page17 Benefits of gas in glassGiving buildings the best possible insulation is an importantcontribution to climate protection. When it comes to windows,insulating glass is regarded as the optimum solution. Its outstandinginsulation properties are attributable to noble gaseslike krypton.Good for you and the environmentThis magazine not only brings youinteresting articles and interviews– it is also kind to the environment.“Gases for Life” is printed on100% recycled paper.If you want to stop reading“Gases for Life“, please cancelyour subscription rather than simply throwing themagazines away. You can do this by sending ashort e-mail to diana.buss@messergroup.com. Wewould kindly ask you to dispose of any magazinesthat you have finished reading as waste paper.We will gladly send you additional copies of“Gases for Life” and are always happy to get newreaders. In both cases, all that is required is aquick e-mail to diana.buss@messergroup.com.Other Sections4 News8 Worldwide9 People Focus14 Using Gases16 Industry Spotlight18 GaseWiki19 Dialogue; ImprintCollect “Gases for Life”For long-term storage of our magazine,request the free “Gases for Life” slipcase.Contact: diana.buss@messergroup.comGases for Life 03 | 20113

NewsGermany: Partial oxygenationFull load in spite of retrofittingThe wastewater treatment plant inBad Rappenau near Heilbronn has twoactivated sludge tanks which are currentlyundergoing successive retrofitting.While work is carried out on one basin,the other has to deal with the entirewastewater load. Of course, the existingaeration systems are not designed forthis double load. That is why oxygenationtubes were laid in order to injectpure oxygen into the tank. This partialoxygenation, as it is called, supplies therequired amount of the reactive gas tothe biodegradation processes, therebymaintaining the biological cleaning capacityand ensuring that the outflow limitsare reliably complied with. The pureoxygen also helps prevent unpleasantodours from forming in the first place.This is particularly important as thewastewater treatment plant is located ina nature reserve and recreational area.Stefan Kosock und Helmut Gottschalk,Messer IndustriegaseGermany: Concrete cooling intunnel constructionStability for ICE lineA new high-speed rail link is currently beingbuilt between Erfurt and Nuremberg.To ensure that the ICE can maintain itsspeed, a 3.8-kilometre tunnel is beingbuilt under the Eierberge hills near BadStaffelstein in Franconia. The quality ofthe concrete that is used in the constructionhas a decisive bearing on thestability of the tunnel. That is why a largepart of the approximately 300,000 cubicmetres of concrete required is cooled.As a result, stress cracks are avoidedand better structural quality is achieved.The use of cryogenic liquid nitrogenallows the temperature of the freshconcrete to be adjusted precisely withina wide range and tuned in accordancewith the requirements of the particularconstruction phase.Jens Tauchmann, Messer GroupCzech Republic: Gas and equipmentNitrogen for microelectronicsRaphaela Savelsberg checksout the tablet PC from Messer’sindustrial gases exhibition at thenew company headquarters.Nitrogen is required in the manufactureof electronic products at FoxconnNetwork Technology Ltd. in the CzechRepublic. The Taiwanese company is theworld’s largest manufacturer of electronicand computer components. Itsproduct range includes components formobile phones and personal computers;the list of clients includes companiessuch as Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Apple.Foxconn supplies Apple with partsfor the Mac mini, iPod, iPad and iPhoneamong others. Nitrogen is primarilyrequired for the safe and reliable solderingof circuit boards and other electroniccomponents. This year’s expectednitrogen requirement is 750,000 cubicmetres. Gas consumption is expected todouble in 2012 after the completion ofadditional production lines.Petra Plevová, Messer TechnogasPoland: Carbon dioxide snow as coolantOptimal mushroomgrowing substrateIn Poland, Messer has won the customof two producers of mushroom growingcompost. The two compost producers“Mykogen” and “Unicost” producespecial culture substrate that is suitablefor mushroom cultivation. In order toregulate natural fermentation in the compost,the temperature must not exceeda permissible maximum level. Messerhelps achieve this with its carbon dioxidecoolant. The carbon dioxide snow coolsthe special compost and prevents it fromsuddenly starting to ferment and becomingunusable.Romuald Maciąg, Messer PolskaThe temperature of the freshconcrete can be adjusted in nextto no time.4 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

NewsPéter Szúnyog (Zollner) and LászlóFerencz (Messer Hungarogáz) next to thenewly installed nitrogen tank in VácTim Lieser, a trainee at CorporateCommunications, likes Ethical Coffee too.France: Protective gas for coffee capsulesHungary: Soldering with nitrogenQuality and process reliabilityOxidation is extremely undesirable whensoldering electronic components. That iswhy Zollner, based in Vác, does its solderingin a nitrogen atmosphere, whichlargely prevents unwanted oxidation ofmetal surfaces. Surface wetting withthe solder is also much better undernitrogen. This reduces the number ofsoldering defects and improves the qualityof the solder joints. Overall, nitrogenenhances process reliability, increasesyield and expands the soldering ma-Switzerland: Beer production with ASCO equipmentHigh-tech for traditional brewerySt. Gallen has a brewing traditionstretching back centuries. The Schützengartenbrewery was founded in the easternSwiss town in 1779, making it theoldest brewery in Switzerland today. Atthe same time, it is one of the country’smost state-of-the-art breweries thanksto a process of continual modernisation.Schützengarten also uses high-tech solutionswhen it comes to handling carbondioxide (CO 2 ): the gas, which is recoveredfrom the brewing process, is storedin liquid form in a 20-tonne-capacity tank.An atmospheric CO 2 vaporiser convertschines’ process window. Zollner is asystem service provider in the ElectronicManufacturing Services (EMS) sector,offering an extensive range of productrelatedservices. Having invested in additionalmachinery this year, Zollner nowhas a significantly greater gas requirement.Messer therefore increased thenitrogen supply volume by 1.6 million to3.6 million cubic metres in June of thisyear.Anita Kötél, Messer Hungarogázup to 500 kilogrammes per hour of thisliquid CO 2 to the gaseous state in orderto prepare it for use as a protectivegas for various steps in the brewingprocess as well as bottling and kegfilling. In addition, Schützengarten hasalmost 2,000 CO 2 cylinders which areused for drawing beverages in thecatering trade. Schützengarten uses anLH800AR CO 2 cylinder filling systemto fill the cylinders. This system wassupplied by ASCO, along with the tank,vaporiser and cylinders.Nicole Urweider, ASCO Carbon Dioxide LTDEnvironmentallyfriendly coffeecapsulesCoffee machines that brew up the hot drinkusing single-portion capsules are becomingincreasingly popular. However, for each cupof coffee, the empty capsule, generallymade from aluminium, is left as waste. Inorder to cut down on the use of thisenergy-intensive raw material and reducewaste, the Swiss-based Ethical CoffeeCompany (ECC) has developed a coffeecapsule made from corn starch and fibre. Atthe end of the coffee-brewing process, thecapsules can go to compost along with thecoffee grounds, where they biodegrade.What is more, the corn pod is 20 per centcheaper than the aluminium product.ECC’s new plant in Ville-la-Grand, France,has seven new production lines, includingfive high-speed filling systems in order tomeet the growing demand. Each year, 1.5billion capsules are to be produced in thisfactory. Food-grade nitrogen is used duringcapsule production. Close cooperationbetween Messer Schweiz and MesserFrance led to the signing of a gas contractwith ECC for 1.5 million cubic metres ofliquid nitrogen.Angélique Renier, Messer FranceGases for Life 03 | 20115

Nitrogen protects production of ultra-light aircraft componentsBaking carbon fibresand saving keroseneModern commercial aircraft are expected to be more fuel-efficient while at the same timebecoming quieter and quieter. This is not just an ecological challenge – the manufacturerreaps direct economic benefits from each advancement in this area: whoever builds the mosteconomical aircraft gets the most orders. For example, at the beginning of July, 567 orders hadalready been placed for the new A350 long-haul aircraft which Airbus wants to put into service atthe end of 2013. The fuselage and wings of this model consist mainly of carbon fibre composites,which are both light and stable. The individual components are “baked” in huge autoclaves prior toassembly. Large quantities of nitrogen are used to provide an inert atmosphere and fire protection.According to Airbus, the A350 willuse 25 per cent less fuel than comparableaircraft in operation today. Whilethis efficiency gain also has to do withoptimised engines and surfaces, themain factor is the aircraft’s lower overallweight. In order to reduce the weight,the fuselage structure is made of carbonfibre material. The wings, which have aspan of 64.7 metres, are made entirelyfrom this super-light material. Accordingto the manufacturer, the new Airbus willtherefore be the most economical andenvironmentally friendly aircraft in itsclass.Image: Premium Aerotec GmbHThe Airbus A350’s fuselage and wings consist of lightweight yet high-strengthcarbon fibre components. Their production demands the utmost precision.Carbon fibre composite material, alsocalled CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic)for short, basically consists of twocomponents – the highly stable carbonfibres and a resin in which the fibres areembedded. The parts are then “baked”in their finished form in order to bondthe two materials firmly together andharden them. This colloquial expressionis a quite accurate description of oneaspect of the process: at around 180degrees Celsius, the required temperatureis approximately the same as that6 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

Practical FocusIn der Herstellung von Polstermöbeln wirddie ASCOJET Trockeneisstrahl-Technologieeingesetzt, um Werkzeuge zum PU-Aufschäumen zu reinigen. Andrea Launer,verantwortlich für die Interne KommunikationThe carbon fibre composite materials for the A350 are “baked” under high pressurebei Messer, tauscht für das entsprechendein an autoclave like the one shown here. Flooding Foto the kurz chamber ihren Schreibtischstuhl with gaseous nitrogen mit einemprevents the atmosphere inside the pressurised bequemen oven from Sofa igniting. im Möbelhaus.Image: Premium Aerotec GmbHof a conventional oven. However, that iswhere the similarity ends: the oven forCFRP parts is called an autoclave andis much bigger than the kitchen model.Moreover, the baking is done under highoperating pressure.The autoclaves for the A350 are operatedby Premium Aerotec in Augsburg andNordenham as well as by Aerolia in theFrench town of Méaulte. They are eachbetween 20 and 30 metres long andhave a diameter of up to nine metres.At a pressure of approximately 11 bar,the parts are left in the huge pressurisedovens for up to twelve hours, dependingon their size and form. The autoclave isfilled with nitrogen in order to preventthe fuselage and wing segments fromcatching fire. Approximately 60 per centof the gas is required in the first halfhour. Depending on the system, 20,000to 60,000 cubic metres per hour needsto be supplied.To make these quantities of gas available,a different solution has been foundat each of the three locations. The nitrogen,which is supplied in liquid form, firstneeds to be converted to the gaseousstate before it is injected into the autoclaves.In Nordenham, an air vaporiser isused for this, which brings the nitrogento the boil with the energy of the ambientair. This involves the moisture in theair condensing to form mist, which canbe drained without any significant disruptiveeffects at the northern German site.In Augsburg, mist formation would affectadjacent production and traffic areas. Forthis reason, a closed vaporiser system– fired with natural gas – was installedhere. In Méaulte, where the autoclavetechnology differs from that used at theGerman sites, the waste heat from thepressurised oven is used to heat the gas,again in a closed system.The increasing use of CFRP componentsin the aviation industry is opening up asignificant new market for nitrogen. TheFurther information:Klaus LudwigVice President Key AccountsMesser GroupPhone: +49 (0)172 - 291 97 38klaus.ludwig@messergroup.comThe customersThe EADS subsidiary Premium Aerotec GmbHmanufactures aircraft components in Germanyand Romania. The company’s core business encompassesthe development and production ofaircraft structures made of metal and carbon fibrecomposite material. Premium Aerotec is the world’slargest supplier for the new Airbus A350, supplyingmore than half of the fuselage.Aerolia also builds aircraft structures, mainlyspecialising in the production of aircraft noses. Thecompany has plants in France and Tunisia.two autoclaves in Augsburg and Nordenhamalone will require around 5.7 millioncubic metres of the gas in 2015, whenproduction of the A350 is scheduled tobe in full swing.Editorial TeamGases for Life 03 | 20117

WorldwideFrance: New CO 2 plantGreen gas sourceMesser France has teamed up withSpain’s Abengoa Group to builda new CO 2 production facility in Lacq, inthe Pyrénées-Atlantiques département.Abengoa is the largest biofuel producerin Europe. The production unit will reacha capacity of eight tonnes per hour andis expected to produce 70,000 tonnes ofcarbon dioxide per year. In total, around12 million euros is being invested. Everyaspect of the facility has been designedfor environmentally friendly operation.The CO 2 is a waste product from theproduction of bioethanol, which is addedto vehicle fuels in France, accounting forseven per cent of the fuel mix. The gasis generated from the fermentation ofmaize. Moreover, the CO 2 that is generatedduring bioethanol production ispurified with CO 2 rather than with water.This means that the production facilityuses water only for cooling purposes.This environmentally friendly concept alsoFabrice Orecchioni, Richard Perrayon, Antonio Vallespir, Egon Glitz (left to right)extends to transportation. Most of thesurplus carbon dioxide is transported byrail via the new rail terminal in Blanquefortnear Bordeaux. This investment will provideMesser with a reliable future sourceof CO 2 , which hitherto has mainly comefrom ammonia/fertiliser production. Theplant is scheduled to go into operation atthe end of 2012.Angélique Renier, Messer FranceVietnam: Liquid gases for iPhone production“Touch it!”Liquid nitrogen is requiredin the manufacture of touchpanels for iPhones and iPads.Nguyen Canh Duong, MesserHaiphong Sales (r.) and PhamThanh Duong (l.) are happy aboutthe contract with Wintek.Wintek, a Taiwanese manufacturerof LCD touchscreens for Nokiaand for the Apple iPhone (AAPL), isinvesting 150 million dollars in a newplant in northern Vietnam. The factory,which is under construction in Bac Giangprovince, will produce touch panels foriPhones and iPads. Production is alreadydue to start in the third quarter of 2011,with an initial production capacity of tenmillion thin-film transistors a month and“several million” touch panels. MesserHaiphong has signed a five-year contractwith Wintek to supply 500 to 800 tonnesof liquid nitrogen a month. Large quantitiesof the nitrogen will be used for thestorage of electronic components. Acontract to supply 200 cylinders of argona month has also been concluded withWintek.Ivan Perez, Messer Haipong8 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

People Focus6 questions forIvan PerezIvan Perez (31) is a graduate chemist whojoined Messer in 2007. Since the beginningof 2011, he has been strengthening Messer’sapplication technology and market developmentactivities in Vietnam. He is marriedwith two children and has been living inHanoi (Vietnam) with his family since 2011.Former Messer trainee Katharina Butzen with a sample of cryogenically groundrecycled material which forms the basis for new products.Spain: Cold grinding with ecological benefitsRecycling with asmall grain sizeGranulates and powders are importantintermediate products inpolymer processing. In order to produceuniform granulates without unwantedagglomeration, the grinding process hasto be cooled for some starting materials.The Spanish recycling specialist ZartuS.A. is one of the leading suppliers ofcryogenically ground polymers in southernEurope. The company is based inPerafort near Tarragona and has a total ofnine production lines, two of which usecryogenic nitrogen. In 2010, Messer supplieda total of 1.2 million standard cubicmetres of liquid nitrogen for these lines.As director Juan Blázquez explains, themain advantage of cold grinding is theconsistent product quality it delivers. Thesmaller the grain size, the more valuablethe product. Zartu uses cold grindingprimarily to process plastic bottles andpackaging material. The granulates arepredominantly sold to the chemicalindustry. Zartu’s customers include companiessuch as Repsol, PEMEX, Baselland Celanese. They use the recycledmaterial in the manufacture of productsfor numerous sectors. These include carmats, shoe soles, adhesives and paints,particularly for master batches – pigmentswith special effects for a widerange of synthetic resins. The granulatesare also used in the production of nonwovenmaterials such as conveyor belts.The recycling of waste products not onlyhelps to reduce the consumption of rawmaterials, but also to save money. Recycledplastic products are around 35 percent cheaper than new products.Marion Riedel, Messer Ibérica de Gases1. My biggest professional challenge atMesser so far has been …... adapting to life in Vietnam in orderto provide technical support to oursubsidiaries there.2. What typifies Messer for me is …... the ability to take swift action forour customers thanks to the excellentcooperation that exists in our internationalorganisation, and a high degreeof decision-making autonomy.3. My strengths ...... are personal commitment, spontaneity,perseverance, readiness to takerisks, and the ability to learn quickly.4. I have a weakness for …... Mediterranean food. Best enjoyedwith the family, good friends and aglass of red wine.5. What fascinates you about gases and gasapplications?I find my present area of work – cryogenicsolvent recovery and waste gascleaning – as interesting as it is complex.6. The most important invention of the lastcentury is …... the laser with its different applications,such as in nanotechnology,which allows matter to be manipulatedat an atomic level.Gases for Life 03 | 20119

Gases make beverages sparkle and keep them fresh for longerPleasant, invigorating andextremely usefulActually, nature intended the nose and lungs for the physical absorption of gases. But evenin the ancient world, people enjoyed the experience of drinking mineral water in which tinybubbles would rise up and cause a tingling sensation on the tongue. And when it came tobeer, people not only enjoyed its alcohol content, they liked its frothiness too. The tinglingand frothiness were caused by the carbon dioxide which ended up in these beverages as aresult of natural processes and without human intervention. The past century saw the startof the global success of sparkling beverages that contain additional CO 2 . Today, gases play anincreasingly important role in the processing and filling of beverages.Image: Krones AGMan’s first and – until the 18thcentury – only encounter withsparkling mineral water was at mineralsprings with a natural CO 2 content.These springs are usually found in areasthat experienced a lot of volcanic activityin the past. As the magma cools, itreleases carbon dioxide, which dissolvesin the natural mineral water. This is whathappened in Selters an der Lahn, a smallplace in Hesse, where a world-famousmineral water is bottled. “Selters” – andthe Anglo-Saxon variant “Seltzer” – hasthus become internationally synonymouswith sparkling mineral water. Naturalmineral water or soft drinks can be enrichedwith naturally sourced or processsourcedcarbon dioxide. This was firstdone in 1772 with CO 2 that escapesduring beer fermentation. Getting carbondioxide into a liquid is not difficult inprinciple. CO 2 dissolves so well in waterthat you can do it by merely blowingthrough a straw, at least for a smallamount. The colder the liquid and thehigher the pressure, the better the gasdissolves, however. Cooling and positivepressure are therefore used in theproduction of carbonated beverages. Inmany cases, the gas is only added to theliquid at the bottling stage. If beveragemanufacturers do not have access toCO 2 of their own, they usually get it fromcarbon dioxide plants or gas supplierssuch as Messer. Naturally, the beverageindustry’s peak CO 2 demand is in thesummertime.Continued on page 12Carbon dioxide is frequently used whenbottling drinks.10 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

Cover Story“Our gases andapplications are asvaried as the beveragesthemselves.”Monika Lammertz, Manager ApplicationTechnology Food at Messer in KrefeldGases for Life 03 | 201111

Cover StorySoft drinks Applications of gases in the drinks industryMineral Mineral water water• CO• 2 COensures 2 ensuresbubblybubblyfreshnessfreshnessand aandlonga longshelf-lifeshelf-life(carbonated).Mineral water(carbonated).Mineral water• CO 2• ensures Liquid• Liquidnitrogen bubbly nitrogen freshness stabilisesstabilisesthinwalled• CO 2 ensures bubbly thinwalledshelf-life PET bottlesfreshnessand a long PET (carbonated). bottlesand drinksand a long shelf-life and drinks (carbonated).canscansand makesand makesthemthemstackablestackable• Liquid (non-carbonated).nitrogen(non-carbonated).• stabilises Liquid nitrogen thinwalledPET bottles walled and drinks PET bottles and drinksstabilises thin-cans and makes them cans stackable and makes them stackable(non-carbonated). (non-carbonated).Wein Wein• CO• 2 COdry ice 2 drycoolsice coolsthethegrapesgrapesand mashand mashand protectsand protectsthemthemfromprematurefromprematurefermentation Wein Weinfermentationduring •duringCOthe 2 dry grapetheicegrapeharvest. coolsharvest. • the CODuring2 dry During ice cools thegrapes inertisationandinertisationandand mash storage, and grapes storage,protects inert and inertgases mash gases and protectsthem prevent fromprematurepreventoxidationoxidation them and fermentation frompremature protectand protectagainstagainst fermentationundesirable duringundesirablethe grape changeschangesharvest. during flavourinDuring the flavouror grape colour.or harvest. colour. Duringinertisationand CO 2isCOused storage,2is used inertisationand for white for whitegases wines,wines, storage, whilewhile inert gasesprevent nitrogen oxidationnitrogenor and prevent nitrogen-argon protector nitrogen-argon oxidation against and mixes protect mixes againstundesirable changes undesirable in are flavour usedareor changes usedfor colour. redforwines.red flavour wines. or colour.CO 2is used for white COwines, while2is used for white wines, whilenitrogen or nitrogen-argon or mixes nitrogen-argon mixesare used for red wines. are used for red wines.Illustration: Piet Hamann, www.piethamann.deNitrogenNitrogenCarbonCarbondioxidedioxideNitrogen Carbon Nitrogen CarbonJuiceBeerJuicedioxideBeerdioxide• Nitrogen• Nitrogenprotects• Duringprotects• Duringinertisation,inertisation,flushingflushingagainstagainstunwantedunwantedoxidationof tanks,oxidationof tanks,transfertransferpumping,pumping,JuiceBeerand prolongs Juiceand prolongsshelf-life.pressurisingshelf-life.pressurisingor filling,or filling,Beer• Nitrogen • Liquid•protectsLiquidnitrogen • During inertisation,nitrogen provides theCO 2preventsflushing• Nitrogen provides protects theCO 2prevents • During oxidation inertisation, oxidationandand flushingagainst internal unwantedinternalpressure oxidationof tanks, transferpressure required in thin-walledageingpumping,against required unwanted in thin-walledageing ofoxidationof the tanks, ofbeerthe beer transfer afterafter pumping,and prolongs PET bottlesPETshelf-life.bottlesand pressurising or filling,and drinksand prolongs drinkscans.fermentation.shelf-life. cans.fermentation.pressurising or filling,• Liquid nitrogen provides theCO 2prevents oxidation and• Liquid nitrogen provides theCO 2prevents oxidation andinternal pressure required in thin-walledageing of the beer afterinternal pressure required in thin-walledageing of the beer afterPET bottles and drinks cans.fermentation.PET bottles and drinks cans.• Liquid• LiquidnitrogennitrogenstabilisesstabilisesthinwalledSoft thinwalledSoft drinksfermentation.drinksPET bottlesPET bottlesand drinksand drinks• CO• 2 COensures 2 ensureslong-lastinglong-lastingcans.cans.freshness,Soft drinks freshness,a longa longshelf-lifeshelf-life• Liquid • Nitrogen nitrogen• Nitrogenprotects • stabilises Liquid protectsagainst nitrogen thinwalledoxidation PETSoft drinksagainst stabilises thinwalledand prolongsSource: Messer Groupand pressureSource: Messer Groupand pressurestabilitystability oxidationbottles andanddrinksprolongs PET shelf-life bottles shelf-life and drinks• CO 2 ensures (carbonated).(carbonated).long-lasting • CO cans.2 ensures long-lasting (non-carbonated).(non-carbonated). cans.freshness, a long shelf-life freshness, • a Nitrogen long shelf-life protects • Nitrogen against protects againstSource: Messer Groupand pressure stability oxidation and prolongs shelf-lifeSource: Messer Groupand pressure stability oxidation and prolongs shelf-life(carbonated). (carbonated).(non-carbonated).(non-carbonated).Naturally sourced carbon dioxide isobtained from mineral water springs thathave excess CO 2 . However, most carbondioxide is obtained as a by-product ofindustrial processes such as ammoniasynthesis. After thorough cleaning ithas food-grade quality, which has to bechecked on a regular basis. Carbonatedbeverages not only taste nice, they alsostay fresh for a long time as CO 2 inhibitsthe growth of microorganisms. This isachieved, firstly, by displacement ofthe air, and thus the oxygen, from thecontainer, and secondly, by means of achange in the pH value, since a smallproportion of the CO 2 combines with thewater to form carbonic acid. Althoughthis acid is very weak, microbes don’tlike this environment, with the resultthat carbonated drinks stay fresh for along time.Gases also help to keep beverages freshduring storage, transfer and bottling.Nitrogen, carbon dioxide and mixturesof the two – for example the GourmetMesser and ASCO products for the beverage industry• Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) for beveragecarbonation and as pressure retainerduring filling• Nitrogen for protection of beveragesand as additional pressure for mechanicalstabilisation of thin-walled containers• Argon as protection against oxidation inwinemaking• CO 2 in the form of dry ice for cooling• CO 2 revert recovery systems• Atmospheric CO 2 vaporisers• CO 2 cylinder filling systems withautomatic weighing system• CO 2 transfer pumps• CO 2 testing equipment• Detectors for monitoring the CO 2concentration in the ambient airmixtures from Messer – protect themagainst unwanted oxidation throughoutprocessing. The question as to whichgas is used depends on the product andwhether carbonation is required. Thus,for example, nitrogen in the form of finebubbles is used to remove the oxygendissolved in a liquid. In the storage tankand in the sales/merchandise container,inert gas rather than air fills the headspace,preventing oxidation and microbialgrowth here too. If a positive pressureis required for still beverages, then theaddition of a liquid nitrogen drop will helpto mechanically stabilise thin-walled receptaclessuch as PET bottles and makethem stackable.Meanwhile, microorganisms are positivelywelcome in winemaking, for withoutyeast fungi there would be no fermentation.But if the wine is to taste good,fermentation must not begin too soonor take place too quickly. The higher thetemperature the greater the risk. Again,carbon dioxide can help here: in theform of dry ice pellets or dry ice snow, itcools the harvested grapes or the mustwithout diluting them, thereby slowingdown the work of the yeast fungi. In12 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

Cover Storyaddition, the carbon dioxide gas that isreleased in the process displaces theatmospheric oxygen and thus inhibitsoxidation. When inerting and blanketingwine vats, nitrogen and nitrogen/carbondioxide mixtures are the most widelyused gases for preventing changes intaste and colour as a result of oxidation.Instead of nitrogen, it is also possible touse the heavier but just as inert noblegas argon in order to preserve the wine’sexisting quality. Breweries, too, useinert gases to try and keep oxygen awayfrom the beer in order to prevent oxidationand maturation of their beer afterfermentation. Large breweries use thecarbon dioxide that is generated duringfermentation itself while others are suppliedby gas producers such as Messer.It is used in the production process in avariety of ways. Inert gases – in this casemostly CO 2 – help with inerting, tankpurging, transferring to storage tanks orfilling road and rail tankers, priming barrelsor preserving the quality of the beerduring bottling.Interview withGase im Leben: Which gases do you get fromMesser?Miroslav Urica: In 2010, Messer supplied uswith some 38,000 tonnes of carbon dioxideand 4,500 tonnes of liquid nitrogen. The latteris used in filling thin-walled PET bottles orcans. A slight overpressure develops whenthe nitrogen evaporates, giving the containersthe necessary stability.Gase im Leben: What is the most importantfactor in relation to the gases?Miroslav Urica, StrategicProcurement Manager at Coca-ColaHellenic Procurement GmbH:“Messer has proved to be a flexible andreliable partner in every respect.”possibility of an unplanned spike in demand,for instance during unexpectedly hot weather.The supplier then has to be able to deliver asufficient quantity of gases at very short notice.We also expect any technical problemsthat may occur with the tanks and pipelinesto be resolved very quickly. Since 2000,Messer has proved to be a flexible and reliablepartner in every respect. That is why wewant to further strengthen our cooperation.Editorial TeamBeverage production today is unthinkablewithout gases. But what is it welike about a drink – a liquid – that alsocontains a gas? It’s quite simple: mostpeople find the tingling sparkle of thetiny bubbles refreshing. It stimulatessalivation and increases circulation ofthe blood to the tongue and palate. Thismakes them more receptive to flavours –coke and lemonade simply have a muchstronger taste with CO 2 . Furthermore,researchers in Los Angeles recently discoveredthat carbon dioxide stimulatesthe same pain receptors in the mouththat also react to strong mustard, horseradishor chilli. And this small pain, whichwe don’t even register as such, also hasa pleasant and invigorating effect.Editorial TeamMiroslav Urica: Quality is our prime consideration.The Coca-Cola Company has definedits own very strict specifications for this. Thesupplier must carry out regular checks andbe able to demonstrate that these specificationsare being complied with. We also needan international player who can preferablypartner us in all our sales areas. And of coursethe price has to be right too.Gase im Leben: What do you expect from thesupplier?Miroslav Urica: It is important to us that theyare flexible, and that their service adheresto the agreed standard. There is always theThe Coca-Cola Hellenic Procurement GmbHImage: The Coca-Cola CompanyFurther information:Monika LammertzManager Application TechnologyFood Messer GroupPhone: +49 (0)2151 7811-231monika.lammertz@messergroup.comCoca-Cola Hellenic is the world’s second-largest and Europe’s largest bottler of Coca-ColaCompany products. The company operates 80 bottling plants and sold more than 13 billionlitres of soft drinks in 2010. Its area of operation covers 28 countries, predominantly incentral and eastern Europe, covering a total population of over 560 million people. BesidesCoca-Cola Hellenic, Messer also supplies Coca-Cola Enterprise in France as well as Coca-Cola China.Gases for Life 03 | 201113

Protective gas with cleaning effect during annealing of heating elementsPerfect appearance forhidden helpersNormally we don’t see them, but we would certainly miss them if they didn’t do their unseenwork: heating elements are ubiquitous and indispensable. Whether they get the oven to the righttemperature or heat the water in the washing machine, melt plastic for film or get rid of the iceon railway points, they always generate the required heat when and where it is needed. BackerELC AG in Aarau, Switzerland, has been producing flat and round heating elements for differentapplications for over eighty years. The company relies on high-purity protective gases fromMesser.The centrepiece of any heatingelement is the heating coil, whichconverts electricity into heat. It is embeddedin an insulating layer consistingof magnesium oxide powder, which inturn is encased in a steel sheath. AtBacker ELC, these tubular casings aremade from corrosion-resistant steelalloys. The rods, which are straightto begin with, are bent into differentand sometimes quite exotic shapes,depending on what they are goingto be used for. In order to improvethe steel’s workability, the rods areannealed at around 1,050 degrees Celsius.This also sinters the magnesiumoxide powder to a solid ceramic mass.Lorenz Thalmann checks the heatingelements after annealing in the continuousfurnaceAny oxidation of the metals in theannealing furnace is of course unwelcomeas it would affect the qualityand appearance of the tubular casings.Chromium oxide, for example, turnsthe surfaces green. In order to avoidsuch effects, a protective controlledatmosphere is created inside theannealing furnace. First, the air isdisplaced from the furnace by addingnitrogen, and then a mixture consistingof 75 per cent hydrogen and 25 percent nitrogen is introduced. Since thecontinuous furnace – the material to beannealed is moved through the furnacechamber on a conveyor belt – is openon two sides, the gas has to be toppedup continuously to ensure that theatmosphere remains virtually free ofoxygen. Apart from providing protectionagainst oxidation, the hydrogenalso has a cleaning effect: if there areoil residues on the metal, these areevaporated in the heat; the gas reactswith the carbon contained in the oil,thereby preventing possible condensationof the vapours and keeping thesurfaces smooth and clean. The hydrogenalso helps to make the annealingprocess more efficient and saveenergy. In comparison with all othergases, it is much better at absorbingheat (heat capacity) and conducting it(thermal conductivity). It speeds up thetransfer of thermal energy and causesthe heating elements to be heatedmore evenly. Disposing of the hydrogenis easy as well as environmentallyfriendly: once it has served its purpose,it is burned off at various points in thefurnace system, with an easily visibleflame. This produces harmless steamas waste gas. The purity of the gasesthat are added is crucial in terms of ensuringthat the surfaces are of the requiredquality. Messer guarantees boththe required purity of the gases as wellas their constant availability. During thedesign and installation of the gas supply,Messer supported the customerwith special know-how in applications,gases and safety technology.Annealing is a crucial stage of production,but the heating elements onlyacquire their diverse forms once theyhave cooled. After leaving the furnace,14 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

Using GasesN 225 % N 2Mixture ensuresoxygen-free atmosphereCooling to roomtemperatureFurther processing throughwelding and solderingNitrogenMixerProtectiveatmosphere75 % H 2H 2Prepared heatingelement blankConveyor beltconveys material tobe annealedfinished, customer-specificheating moduleHydrogenIllustration: Piet Hamann, www.piethamann.deStefan Cuturic screws together the cooled, manually bent heating elements.The advantages of hydrogen/nitrogenmixtures from Messer• High degree of purity of industrialgases• Dosage and concentration asrequired• Reliable quality thanks toreproducible gas atmosphere• Constant availability of gases assafety purge gas• Reliable and secure storage of gases• Low consumption of protective gas• Low investment costs• No direct CO 2 emissionsthey undergo a visual inspection.The surfaces of the protecting tubesalready have their final appearance andshould have a metallic sheen withoutany oxidation.The secret of producing high-qualityheating elements lies in the optimaldetermination of the final length aswell as in the bending, which is doneby hand. At the end, the electricalconnections must be correctly positionedwith millimetre precision sothat the finished heating elements canbe easily fitted. Any tears in the tubesduring bending would inevitably resultin rejects. It takes the skilled workersup to six years of practice to learn howto make complex three-dimensionalforms with loops.Gases are also required for other operationsbesides annealing. The manufactureof welded tubes involves theuse of argon/hydrogen mixtures duringwelding and homogenizing annealing.Fuel gases and oxygen are needed forsoldering of the electrical connectionson the finished module.Hans-Peter Schmidt, Messer GroupMarkus Epple, Messer SchweizFurther information:Hans-Peter SchmidtManager Application TechnologyMetallurgy Messer GroupPhone: +49 (0)2151 7811-233Gase im Leben 03 | 2011hans-peter.schmidt@messergroup.com15

Industry SpotlightAutomotiveChemical IndustryMedicinePharmaceuticalsFoodHungary: Oxygen for veterinary medicineAnimal operations under generalanaestheticVaccinations, the treatment of minorinjuries and the implantation of“Backhome Chips”, as they are called,make up the bulk of the day-to-daywork of the Rex clinic for small animalsin the centre of the Hungarian capitalBudapest. If necessary, however, theclinic also performs operations undergeneral anaesthetic. During inhalationanaesthesia, the animal patient is givenmedical oxygen from Messer in additionto the anaesthetic. The supply of oxygenduring anaesthesia is vital and preventsorgan damage.Anita Kötél, Messer HungarogázPoland/Benelux: Cryotherapy with nitrogenCold benefitsExtreme cold has astonishingly positiveeffects on the human body. Afterspending a short period exposed toa very cold environment, the bodyrecovers much more quickly fromstrenuous physical exertion or a shock.Sensitivity to pain is reduced, physicaland mental vigour is enhanced. One tothree minutes in a cryosauna, as it iscalled, at a temperature of minus 140degrees Celsius is enough to experiencethis beneficial effect.Whole-body cryotherapy – in contrastto specifically targeted cryotherapy –goes back to Toshiro Yamauchi, theJapanese doctor who developed thefirst cryochamber in 1978. ZdzislawZagrobelny, Chair of Rehabilitation atthe Academy of Physical Culture inWroclaw, continued the research inthe 1980s and established a scientifictradition in Poland in the field ofcryotherapy. This ultimately led to thedevelopment of an inexpensive andcompact chamber which is also simpleto operate. Messer in Poland hasbeen involved in this from the beginning.The Polish company PPH JUKAsells the chambers under the name“Cryosauna”.The low temperatures are generatedby evaporating liquid nitrogen. TheCryosauna’s main features are itssmall dimensions, particularly low operatingcosts and high efficiency: up toCryosauna: Therapy at minus 140 degreesCelsius20 patients an hour can be treated in thesingle-person chamber. Evaporation ofthe liquid gas allows the target temperatureto be reached in under five minuteswhile at the same time complying withall the safety criteria that are absolutelyessential when performing cryotherapy.In February 2010, the first chamberfrom Poland was installed at CryoWellin Ohain-Lasnes, Belgium. Another twochambers have been installed sincethen. Each chamber requires 3,000 litresof liquid nitrogen a year. CryoWell importsand sells the PPH JUKA chambersin the Benelux countries.Frédéric Dohet/Marina De Ridder,Messer BeneluxBitang, who belongs to Messer employeesLaura and Ferenc András, has not needed togo to the clinic yet as he is fit and healthy.Hungary: CO 2 for cryotherapyShock for pain reliefA local cold shock can help with pain,sports injuries and other symptoms. TheCryofos thermal shock therapy device,which is sold in Hungary by Rentac TradeKft., builds upon this effect. It uses thecold temperatures that are generatedwhen liquid carbon dioxide expands,directing a fine spray of dry ice at thepatient’s skin with a pressure of 1-2 bar.The temperature of the treated area islowered to around 2-4 degrees Celsiuswithin just 30 seconds. The thermalshock causes the vessels to expand, thusfacilitating much quicker removal of socalledinflammation mediators, substanc-es produced in the body which trigger ormaintain an inflammatory response in thebody. This allows oedemas, haematomasand local inflammations to be removedmuch more quickly than with other formsof therapy. In 2010, Rentac donated oneof these cryotherapy devices to the HungarianOlympic Committee to support thetreatment of top athletes as well as theirpreparation for future sporting challenges.Anita Kötél, Messer Hungarogáz16 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

Green PageEnjoying the optimum insulation properties of insulated glass: Messer employees Ute Schaad, Marlen Schäfer and Anita Kötél.Krypton optimises insulation performance of insulated glass windowsBenefits of gas in glassHeat insulation is one of the most important “alternative energy sources” with the potential tomake a major contribution to climate protection. Windows are the main culprits when it comes toenergy leakage from buildings. The use of noble gases such as krypton can significantly improvethe insulation performance of insulated glass.It is a basic law of physics that wheredifferent temperatures meet, theyseek to balance each other out. Evermore sophisticated insulation techniquesare being used in buildings to preventthis ‘balancing out’ in order to saveheat energy. Of course, the quality ofthe glass and the finishing is crucial indetermining the insulation propertiesof double or triple-glazed windows. Butwhat you put in the space between thepanes also plays an important role in thisregard: the lower the thermal conductivityof the filling gas between the panes,the better the insulation.The simplest filling gas is air, but it hasrelatively high thermal conductivity. Thenoble gases argon and, in particular,krypton, which is rarer and thereforemore expensive, have lower thermalconductivity.The superior insulation properties ofkrypton allow the gap between theindividual panes to be reduced comparedwith conventional insulated glass windows.Thus for argon, the optimal gapbetween panes is 16 mm, while for kryptonit is only 8 to 12 mm. This enablesthe U-value to be reduced by between0.3 and 0.5, depending on the filling gasand filling level. Double-glazed windowsfilled with krypton can thus achieveinsulation values that are comparablewith those of much heavier, argon-filledtriple-glazed windows. Furthermore,windows filled with noble gases havethe welcome side effect of also offeringimproved sound insulation.Jens Tauchmann, Messer GroupThe U-ValueInsulation efficiency is expressed with the U-value, which indicates how much heat a buildingmaterial allows to pass through. The lower theU-value, the greater the insulation. For example,a single pane of glass has a U-value of 5.8,while insulated glass filled with air has a U-valueof 3.0. If argon is used as a filling gas, U-valuesof under 1.5 are achievable, while the use ofkrypton allows this figure to be reduced evenfurther to below 1.0.3.02.52.01.51.00.5GlassAirArgonKryptonGases for Life 03 | 201117

GaseWiki [3]Argon –Inactivity welcomeEach of us breathes in (and outagain) a good 120 litres of argonevery day. At just under one percent, the noble gas is the third mostabundant gas in the atmosphereafter oxygen and nitrogen. One litreof air contains around 9.3 millilitresof argon. It is the third mostabundant element in the universebesides helium and neon, and is themost prevalent of the seven noblegases on earth.Profile: Argon [ Ar ]Element symbolOccurrenceArBoiling point - 186 °CFreezing point - 189 °CChemicalpropertiesProductionMost abundant noble gas on earth, makingup approximately 0.93% of the atmosphereColourless, odourless noble gas, monatomicand extremely inert, heavier than air, nonflammableAir separationBy far the largest proportion of argon on earth is found in theatmosphere. Since argon is also produced by the decay of thepotassium isotope 40K in the earth’s crust, small amounts ofit are present in rocks. Volcanoes and hot springs also leak thenoble gas into sea water and ground water.After helium, argon was the second noble gas to be describedscientifically. The British chemists William Ramsay and WilliamRayleigh discovered it in 1894 when they were investigatingthe composition of air. Since the gas – like all noblegases – turned out to be extremely inert, the scientists namedit argon, after the Ancient Greek word “aergon”, meaning“inactive”. To this day, only one chemical compound involvingargon is known of – argon fluorohydride HArF, which Finnishscientists demonstrated in 2000; however, it is only stable atextremely low temperatures.UsesShielding gas for welding, degassingof metal melts, filling gas in light bulbs,illuminating gas for gas discharge lamps,laser medium in argon-ion lasers, fillinggas in insulated glass windows, protectionagainst oxidation in the food industry,gaseous extinguishing agentArgon is non-flammable, it is heavier than air and displaysvirtually no chemical reactivity. The bulk of industrially producedargon is used as a shielding gas for welding and inmetallurgy, for example in the production of steel, pure siliconor titanium. It is used as an extinguishing agent in automaticfire-extinguishing systems and, mixed with helium, it ensuresthat airbags inflate in a flash in an emergency. Its low thermalconductivity makes the noble gas a good filling gas for thespace between the panes of glass in double-glazed windows.It is also used in winemaking for transfer-pumping and as agas filling in casks in order to protect the wine against oxidation.Argon is also used as a filling gas for light bulbs and as anilluminating gas for gas discharge lamps, where it produces itstypical purple hue.Editorial Team18 Gases for Life 03 | 2011

DialogueImprintPublished by:Messer Group GmbHCorporate CommunicationsGahlingspfad 31D-47803 KrefeldEditorial Team:Diana Buss – Editor-in-chiefPhone: +49 2151 7811-251diana.buss@messergroup.comBenjamin Auweiler, Corporate Officebenjamin.auweiler@messergroup.comAngela Bockstegers, Corporate Officeangela.bockstegers@messergroup.comThomas Böckler, Application Technologythomas.boeckler@messergroup.comDr. Christoph Erdmann,Production & Engineeringchristoph.erdmann@messergroup.comTim Evison, Corporate Officetim.evison@messergroup.comDr. Bernd Hildebrandt, ApplicationTechnologybernd.hildebrandt@messergroup.comMichael Holy, Region Central Europemichael.holy@messergroup.comMonika Lammertz, Application Technologymonika.lammertz@messergroup.comKrisztina Lovas, Region Southeast Europekrisztina.lovas@messer.huDr. Joachim Münzel, Patents & Trademarksjoachim.muenzel@messergroup.comAngélique Renier, Region Western Europearenier@messer.frMarlen Schäfer, Corporate Officemarlen.schaefer@messergroup.comNicole Urweider, ASCO Carbon Dioxide LTDurweider@ascoco2.comConcept and Realisation:Agentur Brinkmann GmbHMevissenstraße 64aD-47803 KrefeldText and Editing:klartext: von pekker!Römerstraße 15D-79423 HeitersheimThe Gases for Life editorial teamWe are ...From top to bottom: AngéliqueRenier, Dr. Bernd Hildebrandt,Tim Lieser, Krisztina Lovas,Monika Lammertz, MarlenSchäfer, Dr. Joachim Münzel,Diana Buss and Michael Holy(not pictured: BenjaminAuweiler, Angela Bockstegers,Thomas Böckler, Dr. ChristophErdmann, Tim Evison andNicole Urweider)CompetitionCheers!In this issue of the magazine, readershave the chance to win a selection ofspecial beverages, in keeping with thesubject of our cover story. These includebeers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, allof which have been produced by ourcustomers.Which gas has the best insulation propertiesfor insulated glass windows?4 10Which coffee capsules are produced withthe help of Messer gases?29What is the name given to the “ovens” inwhich carbon fibres are “baked”?6For your chance toenjoy these specialbeverages, all youneed to do is answerour questions relatingto this issue of “Gasesfor Life”. The lettersin the colouredboxes will give youthe answer. Pleasesend it by email withCongratulations!The winner of thelast competition wasWerner Dittmann,Voestalpine RotecGmbH, Krieglach,Austria. Thecorrect answer was“KÖNIGSALLEE”.the subject line “Gases for Life competition”to: diana.buss@messergroup.com.The deadline is 31 October 2011.This competition is not open to employees ofthe Messer Group or their families. In the eventof multiple correct answers, the winner will bepicked randomly. The result of the draw will befinal and not subject to appeal.What is the brand name of a range of Messer gasmixtures used in the beverage industry?Translation:Context GmbHElisenstraße 4–10D-50667 KölnGo to www.messergroup.com. for comprehensiveinformation about “Gases for Life”.“Gases for Life” is published four times ayear in German, English and HungarianAnswer:8 357B2 3 4 5 6 7 8Have fun and (with a bit of luck) enjoy some sparklinglyrefreshing beverages!9 10Gases for Life 03 | 201119

Oxygen makes“Miami” nicerThe „Miami” vase was made for anew luxury cruise liner sailing out ofMiami. 15 craftsmen at Ajka Kristályworked on it for over 16 hours.The Hungarian Ajka Kristály glassworks has beencrafting glasses, vases and bowls from the finestcrystal glass since 1878. After decoration, thesurfaces of the glass products are made smoothwith the help of oxy-fuel burners. Messer suppliesAjka Kristály with 120,000 cubic metres of oxygena year for this purpose.For more on this and many other gas applications, goto:www. Gases for Life .de