If you’re using an oximeter at home and your oxygen saturation level is 92% or lower, call your healthcare provider. If it’s at 88% or lower, get to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

This covers the basics of medical gas storage and the requirements for health care spaces detailed in NFPA 99

Common Oxygen Cylinder / Tank Size Chart:

LITERS  PSI HT  DIAM    LBS.

H (K) 7842 2000 55.0 9.0 120

Masterflex Differential Pressure Flowmeter, Mass, 100 L/min Gases

Masterflex – Item # EW-32908-75

Max Pressure (PSI)145
Min Flow Rate (LPM)1
Max Flow Rate (LPM)100
Min Flow Rate (mL/min)1000
Max Flow Rate (mL/min)100000
Wetted Materials 302 and 303 SS, Viton®, silicone RTV, glass-reinforced nylon, aluminum

Abstract

Ten polymeric materials including EPDM, Nylon 6,6, Buna-N and other materials marketed* as TFE-Teflon® (PTFE), Kel-F® 81 (PCTFE), Vespel® SP-21, Viton® A, Viton® A-500, Fluorel®, and Neoprene® were systematically evaluated for their oxygen compatibility property. The specific properties examined included: (1) autoignition temperature (AIT), (2) heat of combustion, and (3) liquid-oxygen (LOX) mechanical impact sensitivity. Test methods and procedures employed for the evaluations were in compliance with those prescribed in the ASTM and BSI standards. Additionally, a BOC in-house high-pressure autoigniticn test rig (HP-AIT) was used for a detailed study on the materials' autoignition behavior. This high-pressure vessel is capable of probing the AIT of a material up to 450°C and at oxygen pressure (prior to a thermal excursion) up to 5000 psig (∼34.5 MPa).

According to the test results, fluorinated polymers including TFE®, Kel-F® 81, Viton® A, Viton® A-500 and Fluorel® exhibited superior oxygen compatibility property. Specifically, they possessed relatively high autoignition temperatures and reasonably low heat of combustion values. Among them, TFE® possessed the best property by showing the highest autoignition temperature (>450°C), lowest heat of combustion (1517 cal/g), and qualified (pass) LOX impact sensitivity. Vespel® SP-21 (15% graphite-filled polyimide) exhibited an autoignition temperature higher than fluorinated elastomers like Fluorel® and Viton® A, but lower than Kel-F® 81 as well as TFE®. The variation of oxygen pressure, ranging from 1800 psig (∼12.4 MPa) to 5000 psig (∼34.5 MPa), was found to exert little influence on the autoignition temperature of the polymers.

The autoignition behavior of Kel-F®81, Viton® A, Vespel® SP-21, and Nylon 6,6 was further investigated, using HP-AIT, as a function of sample quantity and surface area at different oxygen pressure. On the one hand, variation of sample quantity exerted a more pronounced effect on the AITs of Viton® A, Nylon 6,6 and Kel-F® 81 at various pressures than on Vespel® SP-21. A higher autoignition temperature was generally observed from samples with smaller quantities. On the other hand, changes in sample surface area had little influence on the autoignition temperature of the materials in 1800 psig (∼12.4 MPa) oxygen.

Abstract

The ignition resistance of hard (type III) anodized aluminum alloy to particle impact in pure oxygen was investigated. Test samples with aluminum oxide film thicknesses of 3 μm (0.12 mils), 5 μm (0.20 mils), 20 μm (0.79 mils), and 50 μm (1.97 mils) were tested at six different temperatures ranging from 239 K (-28 °F) to 672 K (750 °F). These anodized test samples were placed in a supersonic particle impact chamber with the impact surfaces directly exposed to the impacting particles. Aluminum alloy particles of 2000 μm (0.078 in.) diameter were used to promote ignition upon impact. The event of ignition was recorded on standard video. The test results are plotted as Logistic Regression curves showing the ignition frequency over the temperature range tested. The results are compared to previously tested soft anodized (type II) aluminum alloy and bare aluminum alloy. The results indicate that the hard (type III) anodized coating offers increased resistance to particle impact ignition as compared to bare aluminum. The data is inconclusive as to which anodization process (type II or type III) provides better protection from ignition.

Forsyth, ET
Mechanical Engineer, AlliedSignal Technical Services Corp. Team, NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM

Stoltzfus, JM
Mechanical Engineer, NASA Laboratories Office, NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM

Committee/Subcommittee: G04.01

DOI: 10.1520/STP12050S

May 2013 Oxygen Safety 3 Oxygen Hazards Is slightly heavier than air, vapor specific gravity 1.10 Pure oxygen can be very reactive Systems must be properly designed, cleaned, maintained and operated (Use no oil, Oxygen Cleaned) Explosions or fires can be initiated by the sudden pressure increase when a cylinder valve is opened

With a nominal pressure ratio of 32:1 (2nd stage ratio 62:1), the Haskel model 27267 Oxygen gas booster is a Two Stage design that utilizes air pressure to boost Oxygen gas pressures to a maximum of 5000 psi PSIG.

Features & Benefits:

• Reliable, easy to maintain, compact and robust

• No heat, flame or spark risk

• Infinitely variable cycling speed and output

• Pneumatic driven units to not require electrical connections

• Easy to apply automatic controls

• No limit or adverse affect to continuous stop/start applications

• Seal systems designed for long working life

• No air line lubricator required

• Hydrocarbon free – separation between air and OXYGEN sections

• Built-in cooling (most models)

• Suitable for OXYGEN gas

• Ability to stall at any predetermined pressure and hold the fixed pressure without consuming power or generating heat

• BASE BOOSTER MODEL: AGT-32/62

• 1st Stage Ratio: 32:1

• 2nd Stage Ratio: 62:1

• Min OXYGEN supply pressure: 100 psi

• Max OXYGEN supply pressure: 30 Pa to 2500 psi

• Max rated OXYGEN outlet pressure: 5000 psi

• Static outlet stall pressure formula: 60 Pa + 2 Ps (Pa = air drive pressure, Ps = GAS supply pressure)

• Min AIR drive pressure: 20 psi

• Max AIR drive pressure: 150 psi

An AGT-32/152 would put out 3000psi O2 from 50psi supply @ 0.46 scfm (13Lpm), but requires 55scfm @ 90psi to drive, and would take 90 hours to fill ten 7000L cylinders. That's basically the full output of our Kaeser compressor, which draws 10kw/h, or 900kWH for 10 cylinders. Rix compressor takes 60kWH for the same job. So the overall energy efficiency is not a very good trade-off!

A flexible and efficient air-driven gas booster for delivering high-pressure gases.

Haskel designs and manufactures gas boosters that are the industry benchmark for durability, safety and reliability. Used for virtually all industrial gases and ideal for gas pressure increases, high pressure gas transference, cylinder charging, and scavenging, Haskel pneumatic-driven gas boosters can produce pressures up to 39,000 psi (2690 bar).

Cryogenic liquids

Cylinder & Bulk Compressed Gases

Cylinders and Equipment

Oxygen is the most common oxidizing gas and is, of course, highly reactive. When dealing with an oxygen-enriched environment, it is important to control the sources of ignition. Ignition can be caused by many things, among them:

Electrical arcs, which can come from electrical equipment or even static discharge
Friction, which can be generated by the sliding contact of materials within the oxygen-enriched environment
Impact of particles or projectiles internal or external to the enriched environment can generate heat
Resonance, which is vibration-induced heating
Heat of compression is the most common cause of explosion due to contamination. Heating is caused by the adiabatic compression of a fluid; this is often called autoignition.

Autoignition is the phenomenon of spontaneous ignition of a fuel source due to the heat generated by the sudden compression of a gas or HoC. When a valve in a high-pressure or high-velocity oxygen flow is opened or closed quickly, the kinetic energy is converted to increased temperature and potential energy in the form of increased pressure. If the temperature generated by the compression exceeds the temperature needed to ignite non-metallic seals or even the pipe itself, the result is a spontaneously explosion or autoignition. When this happens in oxygen systems, the effect can be devastating.

Because the HoC is substantial and can generate thousands of degrees of temperature even at moderate pressure ratios, oxygen systems are designed to limit the pressure drops to control HoC and limit temperature within the autoignition temperatures of the system components.

Thus, it is absolutely essential that contaminants, which can introduce lower auto-ignition temperatures than even the non-metallic seats and seals, be removed from any oxygen system. Any method that achieves the desired cleanliness level is acceptable. CGA 4.4 and the recently issued MSS-SP-138 provide excellent recommendations for cleaning processes.

AirSep Onyx Oxygen Generator SeriesSelf-contained (built-in air compressor)

• High impact ABS enclosure
• Roller base design for easy moving
• Size: 16" x 15" x 29"
• Weight: 51 lbs - 57 lbs (depending on model)
• Oxygen dew point: -100° F
• Oxygen concentration: 93% nominal
• Oxygen outlet connection: 1/4" FNPT JIC-8
• Typical power consumption: 600 W