UV Curing worked example

UV Cure Nitrogen Inerting Cost with nitrogen curtain flow rate of 450 SCFH: a worked example

What does the result look like when nitrogen curtain flow rate reaches 450 SCFH? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when costing inerted vs non-inerted cure on a new line, or when nitrogen cost is a meaningful share of cure operating cost.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Nitrogen curtain flow rate: 450 SCFH (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 180)
  • UV lamp on-time fraction per hour: 1 hr / hr (unchanged)
  • Delivered nitrogen price: 0.01 $ / scf (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Hourly consumption (scf/hr) = flow rate × runtime fraction) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3.6 $ / hr (N₂) for run cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 450 scf / hr for hourly n₂ consumption.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1 hr / hr for runtime fraction.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.01 $ / unit for unit cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where nitrogen curtain flow rate sits at 180 SCFH and the headline result is 1.44 $ / hr (N₂), this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 3.6 $ / hr (N₂).
  • A figure at this level is achievable when nitrogen curtain flow rate is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It assumes a steady curtain flow; real lines purge and ramp, and box leakage or an oversized curtain can push actual consumption well above the setpoint you enter.

Results at a glance

  • Run cost: 3.6 $ / hr (N₂) (headline result)
  • Hourly N₂ consumption: 450 scf / hr
  • Runtime fraction: 1 hr / hr
  • Unit cost: 0.01 $ / unit

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live UV Cure Nitrogen Inerting Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.