An oxygen tank is an oxygen storage vessel, which is either held under pressure in gas cylinders, referred to in the industry as high pressure oxygen cylinders, or as liquid oxygen in a cryogenic storage tank.[citation needed]

Uses edit

 
High pressure oxygen storage cylinder, colloquially referred to as an oxygen tank

Oxygen tanks are used to store gas for:

Breathing oxygen is delivered from the storage tank to users by use of the following methods: oxygen mask, nasal cannula, full face diving mask, diving helmet, demand valve, oxygen rebreather, built in breathing system (BIBS), oxygen tent, and hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

Contrary to popular belief most scuba divers do not carry oxygen tanks. The vast majority of divers breathe air or nitrox stored in a diving cylinder. A small minority breathe trimix, heliox or other exotic gases. Some may carry pure oxygen for accelerated decompression or as supply gas to a rebreather. Some shallow divers, particularly naval combat divers, use oxygen rebreathers, and they use a small oxygen cylinder to provide the gas.

Oxygen is rarely held at pressures higher than 20 megapascals (3,000 psi), due to the risks of fire triggered by high temperatures caused by adiabatic heating when the gas changes pressure when moving from one vessel to another. Medical use liquid oxygen airgas tanks are typically 2.4 MPa (350 psi).[citation needed]

All equipment coming into contact with high pressure oxygen must be "oxygen clean" and "oxygen compatible", to reduce the risk of fire.[2][3] "Oxygen clean" means the removal of any substance that could act as a source of ignition. "Oxygen compatible" means that internal components must not burn readily or degrade easily in a high pressure oxygen environment.

In some countries there are legal and insurance requirements and restrictions on the use, storage and transport of pure oxygen.[citation needed] Oxygen tanks are normally stored in well-ventilated locations, far from potential sources of fire and concentrations of people.[citation needed]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Breather". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). AP photo. November 13, 1948. p. 8.
  2. ^ NAVSEA (2005). "Cleaning and gas analysis for diving applications handbook". NAVSEA Technical Manual. SS521-AK-HBK-010. NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved 2008-09-05.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Rosales, KR; Shoffstall, MS; Stoltzfus, JM (2007). "Guide for Oxygen Compatibility Assessments on Oxygen Components and Systems". NASA, Johnson Space Center Technical Report. NASA/TM-2007-213740. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-05.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)