Orifices are the simplest form of nitrogen flow control. These are mechanical tapers (fixed drilled holes) in the hose system through which a defined amount of nitrogen flows at constant pressure. The advantage: extremely low total costs, often less than 90 € – including the assembly as well as a simple switching valve and the orifice itself. This makes them ideal for simple flow adjustment applications for nitrogen with stable conditions.
A frequently used product in this context is the MH1 valve. This is an inexpensive standard valve which, in combination with an orifice, offers a functional, analog solution for regulating gas flow in industry. This combination is sufficient in many applications – especially if the input pressure is high or no digital feedback is required.
However, there are clear limits:
It should also be noted: If you still want to record measured values later, additional hardware is required (e.g. separate pressure or flow sensors as well as the necessary input on the controller), which increases costs and system complexity. Despite the very long service life and reliability of the valve, simple switching valves such as the MH1 are not ideal for cleanliness-critical processes due to their design, as higher particle emissions are to be expected compared to dedicated mass flow controllers.
Nevertheless, many production lines continue to rely on this principle – especially when only simple volume flows need to be kept constant and appropriate filters reabsorb the particles. However, as soon as dynamic adjustments, reliable monitoring or process traceability are required, this solution quickly reaches its limits.
Mass flow controllers such as VEFC, VEMD or VEAD offer methods for controlling the nitrogen flow that fixed orifices or adjustable throttlevalves cannot offer:
The devices themselves are not "intelligent" in the sense of autonomous anomaly detection, but they are AI-ready. In conjunction with filter monitoring, pressure sensors and algorithms, the degree of contamination of filters can be detected, for example, which enables timely servicing without interrupting production.
Before deciding on a specific valve, you should take a close look at the technical requirements and the environment in which it will be used. Each valve has its own strengths, be it in terms of flow rate, size or connectivity.
While simple systems appear to be much cheaper to purchase, reliable regulators with a monitoring function offer decisive advantages:
An example: In a system with 50 regulators, a simple display on each device can help to quickly identify defective points, without a digital readout.
Modern mass flow controllers provide valuable data:flow rate, pressure, temperature, which can be integrated into higher-level systems such as Festo AX. This opens up possibilities such as:
These devices are not "intelligent" per se, but they are AI-ready and form the basis for future-proof, data-supported manufacturing processes.
The choice of the right valve depends on many factors:
For an individual recommendation, we will be using an interactive tool in the future that will suggest the optimal solution for you by asking specific questions, from a simple orifice to an AI-enabled VEFC.
The regulation of nitrogen in semiconductor production is far more than a technical side issue; it influences quality, process stability and costs. Whether you need a simple solution or state-of-the-art control technology, the decisive factor is what your application requires. By making the right choice, you not only ensure operational reliability, but also efficiency and sustainability.