Gas blending - any tips???

[mania]

I'm starting the course today - any quick tips about it?
A bit afraid of all the math that's connected with gas blending - after all I have Master of Literature degree...

Mania

 

[nova]

I'm starting the course today - any quick tips about it?
A bit afraid of all the math that's connected with gas blending - after all I have Master of Literature degree...

Mania

there are plenty of programs for your computer out there , and I find it easier to change PSI into % of total I.E If you start with 50% psi of 32% O2 and top with 50% psi of 21% O2 (air) the diferance between 32 and 21 is 11, 50% of 11 is 5.5 ,so subtract 5.5 from 32 and you get 26.5 O2 total . quick math = 50% 32 O2 plus 50% 21 O2 = 26.5 nitrox

 

[wb416]

I'm starting the course today - any quick tips about it?
A bit afraid of all the math that's connected with gas blending - after all I have Master of Literature degree...

Mania

Take your calculator and a sharp pencil.... enjoy the mechanics of blending and don't get so hung up on the gas laws etc to the point of absurdity (e.g. carrying calculations to levels of accuracy that the gauges don't support).... learn the gas behaviors that the math is showing you and most of all, be meticulous in your cylinder marking, analyzing, and record keeping (if I'm blending for others)... that'll get you started until you have a good feel for where you can selectively focus.


.....blending for yourself or others?

 

[Squalus]

Have a chart I can scan and send you to help out if you want.

 

[mania]

DMP - chart will be very useful - be grateful if you could send it to me
(mbnin@onet.pl)
OK, the course was fun. We did all the theory and math (this part was the worse - it took me some time to recall how you solve the equation with two unknown numbers). Then we learned how to clean the gear to have it O2 clean (the whole bottle of pure alcohol was used and surprisingly - although talking about Poles - this time the alcohol was not drunk)

And then the last part - practice - blending itself.
First I had to blend a tmx 28/20 up to 140 bars. Then calculate what nitrox I need to use to fill the tank up to 220 bars and have the O2 fraction up to 28% and what will be then the fraction of helium.
First I was blending with partial pressure and then the second part was continuous mix.
But as a woman must admit - I was a bit afraid of the noise these machines are making and that I will blow the whole place.

Now I only need to take a written exam - next week.
BTW- I will be blending for myself. My instructor and a group of us we have our own facility and we can blend there nitrox and trimix. We share the costs of gases so it's much cheaper than blending elsewhere. This was the major reason why I took this course - i wanted to be able to use our facility on my own - without asking for filling all the time.
Anyway i think this is a very good course that teach you a lot about gases - something we should know as divers.
Mania

 

[The Kraken]

fftopic:

Mania,
This is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay off topic, but even though we don't talk on the phone or have personal conversations, how does one pronounce your name?

Is it pronounced "mah-nee-ah" or "may-nee-ya" like a demented person . . ???

the K

 

[mania]

Kraken - it's pronounced like maniac - but without "c" in the end

Mania