Filling Oxygen cylinders

[toprecycler]

Originally Posted by cutter

Thanks, G. There is information in those links that I hadn't read before.

I did not understand why there were 2 sieves.

Dr. Bob talked about the sieve several years ago but not in detail. I was amazed then, and I still am, that they can separate 2 gases that way.

+1. Now the question is, as a welder, can I utilize this technology to separate the Gas's and then fill my tanks for torch work? And what good is nitrogen gas for in the welding field. Would be nice if it could be a replacement for argon!


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[monckywrench]

I've been intrigued by concentrators for a long time.

Some jewelers and glassblowers use concentrators to feed their torches. You can sometimes find them on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. I haven't scored one yet since I want the pump style designed to fill medical cylinders.

For very high volume cryo is the way to go but portable concentrators are used by the military and small civilian users. Cryo ensures liquid oxygen oxidizes any foreign nasties in the liquid oxygen. That's one reason private pilots often transfill their cylinders off welding oxygen cylinders by use of a transfill whip (basically some Western high pressure fittings, a whip and a gauge or a tee to use an oxygen regulator as a gauge and dump valve which is how I do small cylinders).

Bulk hospital use of concentrator oxygen would require local quality monitoring and a clueful operator. Civilian hospitals may or may not want to maintain their own oxygen plant for liability as much as space and staffing reasons.

Why the military likes concentrators:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...yI1Offs3IIR-iA

Aircraft OBOGS aren't quite right yet. The main reason for OBOGS was originally to get rid of the base LOX plants to save manning. That was thought up long ago during the cancelled F-20 program.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...is-more-likely

As a former crew chief I consider OBOGS an overly complex substitute for the old, reliable LOX bottles. Servicing those was no big deal and two airmen could keep up with a squadron in wartime.

BTW nitrogen cannot replace argon or other shielding gas because it is not inert.

[gimpyrobb]

Bringing this thread back to life. I've found a reasonably priced concentrator/compressor combo and I'm working on getting it home.