UV Curing worked example

UV Cure Nitrogen Inerting Cost with nitrogen curtain flow rate of 90 SCFH: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop nitrogen curtain flow rate to 90 SCFH, then walk the calculation through step by step. Calculate nitrogen consumption (SCFH) and hourly cost for inerted UV cure tunnels - the alternative to oxygen inhibition on surface-cure-sensitive chemistries.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Nitrogen curtain flow rate: 90 SCFH (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 180)
  • UV lamp on-time fraction per hour: 1 hr / hr (held at the documented default)
  • Delivered nitrogen price: 0.01 $ / scf (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Hourly consumption (scf/hr) = flow rate × runtime fraction.
  • Run cost works out to 0.72 $ / hr (N₂) at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Hourly N₂ consumption works out to 90 scf / hr at these inputs.
  • Runtime fraction works out to 1 hr / hr at these inputs.
  • Unit cost works out to 0.01 $ / unit at these inputs.

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 50% below the baseline at 0.72 $ / hr (N₂).
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to nitrogen curtain flow rate, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. 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: 0.72 $ / hr (N₂) (headline result)
  • Hourly N₂ consumption: 90 scf / hr
  • Runtime fraction: 1 hr / hr
  • Unit cost: 0.01 $ / unit

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live UV Cure Nitrogen Inerting Cost calculator, set nitrogen curtain flow rate to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.