Booster Solution - Need your input

[Dr.Scub]

Hi,

I would like to fill my own 60 cubic ft (2200 psi). Clyinder with helium from a larger 300 cu. Ft cylinder. I'm hoping to recover from as low as 200 or 100 PSI from the supply cylinder.

I would be doing 2-3 fills a week.

I'm considering an electric compressor of some sort. I'm trying to do this for under $1,000 even if I need to buy used.

What solutions would you recommend?

I'm looking for a economical bootstrap solution.
I don't have shop air but could buy a smaller compressor that does 3 CFM. But even might be more than I can afford.

I have a few limitations in that I don't and can't have big shop air because it's too loud and expensive and most are too big for my current living space.

I don't mind if filling takes a few hours as long as the unit can run that long without having worry about rebuilding prematurely.

I may be able to get a relatively small quiet California Air Tools compressor. But those seem to have 2-3 CFM.

Though I prefer an electric solution

Would a Yong Heng air compressor work? I've heard some compressors can easily be modified to take air in like nitrogen or helium and compress / boost it.

Im open to any outside the box ideas. Any help, thoughts or suggestions would be helpful.

 

[2airishuman]

Haskel Mini Sport Booster. $2100 new but if you aren't boosting O2 you can buy a used one that is of uncertain o2-cleanliness.

You can use a scuba cylinder (with a regulator) for drive air.

Hard to get all the way down to 100 PSI unless you make some sort of helium cascade to pump it into to keep the output pressure low.

 

[Billy Northrup]

Do you currently have a scuba compressor? I ask because you can feed the compressor HE mix just like making Nitrox. Lot's of caveats and such but it can be done and many do it without problem. What mixes to you intend to make?

If you don't have a compressor, maybe you can use that 1000 towards a compressor and self sufficient booster.

I owned a mini sport and it was great, but they move very slowly on the larger fills and I don't remember how well it scavenged.

 

[Wookie]

I owned a mini sport and it was great, but they move very slowly on the larger fills and I don't remember how well it scavenged.

Hard to get them to suck much below 300 PSI without cooking them down...

 

[rjack321]

What is this helium for (ie are you planning on breathing it)?
What pressure do you need to achieve? a 2200psi cylinder does not sound like a scuba cylinder to me.
The Yong Heng air compressor is not a breathing air compressor either, its a paintball compressor. It might work but you'll probably burn it up in a few months.

A shop compressor is not a breathing gas compressor and will only achieve 135-175psi (depending on model)...

 

[tbone1004]

only one that is small and electric I know of is the Rix Microboost, but no way you'll find one for $1k

 

[Dr.Scub]

Wow,

I never thought I'd have such a warm response! Thank you for all the helpful feedback. I will only be using this for balloon applications so it won't be mixed or breathed in. It's refreshing to find such a helpful community. Before coming here I've looked everywhere for answers. It appears that you guys are well versed with these kinds of things. So I am thankful for any help.

I found air driven booster but I was told by maximator's engineer that it needs at least 15 CFM to drive it. So I looked at compressors and it would be $1,3000 but the main issue is that it would be too big and loud as I live in an apartment and have a small patio. If I could find a smaller electrical unit I could put it in an outdoor closet that would help muffle the sound, and if anything it would be more portable than a large shop compressor.

Still open to any other thoughts or ideas you guys might have.

Thanks!

 

[Wookie]

Wow,

I never thought I'd have such a warm response! Thank you for all the helpful feedback. I will only be using this for balloon applications so it won't be mixed or breathed in. It's refreshing to find such a helpful community. Before coming here I've looked everywhere for answers. It appears that you guys are well versed with these kinds of things. So I am thankful for any help.

I found air driven booster but I was told by maximator's engineer that it needs at least 15 CFM to drive it. So I looked at compressors and it would be $1,3000 but the main issue is that it would be too big and loud as I live in an apartment and have a small patio. If I could find a smaller electrical unit I could put it in an outdoor closet that would help muffle the sound, and if anything it would be more portable than a large shop compressor.

Still open to any other thoughts or ideas you guys might have.

Thanks!

How often can you afford to replace it, and, can’t you use a helium bottle down to almost nothing to fill a balloon?

 

[Dr.Scub]

Well I'm hoping I don't have to replace it I'm hoping to get 500 hours or more. I need the portability of a smaller cylinder it's cheaper that way.

Also for the communities enjoyment I thought I'd post a couple links to some video here about ultra quiet compressors. Though they only put out about 2-3 CFM I'm curios if that would be enough to drive a haskel booster or similar.
California Air Tools - Ultra Quiet Compressor

Vibration test, and sound test of another ultra quiet compressor

 

[tbone1004]

they will run the boosters with no problem, they'll just be VERY slow. Those are the same style compressors used in Hookahs and oxygen concentrators fwiw