Industrial Gases

Industrial gases are artificially produced from atmospheric air or hydrocarbon feedstock and are essential for processes such as welding, freezing, heating, cutting and more. They are used across numerous industries — including chemical, food processing, metallurgy, agriculture, construction, medicine, metrology, and scientific research.

Types and Applications of Industrial Gases

Industrial gases are broadly classified as follows:

1. Gases obtained by separating atmospheric air:

• Oxygen (O₂)

  • A powerful oxidising agent essential for combustion and chemical synthesis. It is widely used in metal cutting and welding, fuel combustion, glass and ceramics production, and in waste treatment processes.
  • Medical-grade oxygen, free from impurities and odourless, colourless, and tasteless, is critical for inpatient care and life support.

• Nitrogen (N₂)

  • An inert gas with low reactivity, nitrogen is used to prevent oxidation and reduce explosion risks. In metalworking — such as soldering, welding, and high-temperature processing — it protects surfaces from defects caused by oxidation.
  • In the oil and gas industry, nitrogen purging creates stable environments within equipment.
  • In the food industry, it extends product shelf life by replacing oxygen in packaging, slowing down spoilage.
  • In pharmaceuticals, nitrogen creates an inert atmosphere that preserves the stability and potency of active ingredients.
  • It is also essential in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, preventing oxidation and moisture damage during chip production.
  • In medicine, nitrogen is used for cryotherapy — freezing and destroying skin tumours and other lesions.

• Argon (Ar)

  A monoatomic, inert, non-toxic gas without colour, odour, or taste, argon plays a vital role across various industries and contributes to both product quality and human safety.

  Key uses include:

  • Lighting — in incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
  • Metallurgy — protects molten metals from air exposure during casting and refining.
  • Welding and metal cutting — displaces air from the weld zone, preventing oxidation and ensuring strong, clean joints.
  • Electronics — prevents corrosion during transistor and microchip production.
  • Food packaging — helps preserve freshness by preventing oxidation.
  • Medicine — used in argon plasma coagulation for removing growths and controlling bleeding.

  Argon is also employed in aerospace, chemical and petrochemical sectors, and nuclear energy applications.

2. Gases derived from natural gas or hydrocarbon processing:

• Propane–butane mixture

  With wide-ranging applications:

  • Metal cutting — forms an intensely hot flame when mixed with oxygen.
  • Gas welding — bonds metal components.
  • Food industry — as food additives E943a and E943b (isobutane) for aerosol propulsion (e. g. whipped cream, foams, dyes).
  • Refrigeration — isobutane is a refrigerant in fridges, air conditioners, and freezers.
  • Transport — as a fuel for internal combustion engines.
  • Cosmetics — as a propellant in spray products.

• Methane (CH₄)

  • Used both as a fuel and as a raw material for synthesising chemicals such as methanol, formaldehyde, and acetic acid.
  • It is crucial for producing ammonia and methanol, and in agriculture, it’s converted from organic waste into fertilisers that enrich soil and enhance crop quality.
  • However, methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its emissions during extraction and transport must be strictly controlled.

• Ethane (C₂H₆)

  • Used in power generation and as an alternative vehicle fuel.
  • It is a key raw material for ethylene production, a base for plastics, rubbers, and other polymers.
  • Liquefied ethane serves in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, and in laboratory research for calibrating gas analysers.

3. Acetylene (C₂H₂)

Produced by reacting calcium carbide with water or by arc-induced decomposition of hydrocarbons.

Acetylene is valued across metallurgy, construction, and automotive industries for its high flame temperature — up to 3,300 °C when mixed with oxygen. This makes it ideal for cutting and welding thick or hard metals.

Being highly explosive, acetylene must be stored and handled with specialised equipment and care. Its cost is also comparatively high.

4. Helium (He)

Extracted from natural gas, helium is seven times lighter than air — ideal for balloons, airships, and sonar systems.

Its high thermal conductivity and low viscosity make it suitable for rapid heat removal from high-temperature processes.

As an inert gas, helium is used in oxidation-sensitive processes such as welding, laser cutting, and electron microscopy. It’s indispensable in semiconductor and fibre-optic manufacturing where purity and control are paramount.

In medicine, helium is used in breathing mixtures and as a coolant in MRI scanners.

5. Hydrogen (H₂)

A colourless, odourless gas, poorly soluble in water. Industrially obtained from water electrolysis or by reducing steam with carbon-based materials.

Key applications include:

• Chemical industry — for ammonia, methanol, and hydrochloric acid production.
• Oil refining — for desulphurisation, hydrotreating, and lubricant manufacturing.
• Metallurgy — for direct metal reduction and thermal treatment.
• Glass manufacturing — used in oxygen–hydrogen flames for melting materials.
• Power generation — to cool turbo generators.
• Food processing — for margarine production.

Major consumers include mining, electrical, transport, gas, and pharmaceutical sectors. Liquefied hydrogen is also used as rocket fuel.

ONH Systems designs and manufactures industrial gas generation systems. Our engineers have over 10 years of experience in PSA-based, membrane, and compressor station technologies.

All equipment complies with both Russian and European standards and reflects the latest advances in gas production technology.

We offer tailored nitrogen and oxygen generator solutions to meet your specific industrial requirements.

To speak with a specialist, call +7 (495) 150-44-22.