spchampion
Registered
I don't own a compressor, so I'm asking this more out of idle curiosity.
Given the nationwide shortages of liquid oxygen because of covid, I'm wondering if there's a role for dive shops and compressor owners who can produce nitrox? From what I understand, most medical O2 is produced with fractional distillation and then blended (possibly in the nasal cannula). However, big O2 production companies are overwhelmed and can't produce enough to meet demand.
But nitrox production can rely on membranes without needing a pure source. From my own research, it seems these will generate up to about 44%.
Is that useful outside of diving? Is there a role the scuba community can play to help people who need mixed O2 who otherwise would have to go without? Of course the delivery, regulators, and other aspects are different, but drastic times may call for drastic measures.
Apologies if the question is crazy or based on incorrect assumptions. If I'm off base, happy to know where.
Given the nationwide shortages of liquid oxygen because of covid, I'm wondering if there's a role for dive shops and compressor owners who can produce nitrox? From what I understand, most medical O2 is produced with fractional distillation and then blended (possibly in the nasal cannula). However, big O2 production companies are overwhelmed and can't produce enough to meet demand.
But nitrox production can rely on membranes without needing a pure source. From my own research, it seems these will generate up to about 44%.
Is that useful outside of diving? Is there a role the scuba community can play to help people who need mixed O2 who otherwise would have to go without? Of course the delivery, regulators, and other aspects are different, but drastic times may call for drastic measures.
Apologies if the question is crazy or based on incorrect assumptions. If I'm off base, happy to know where.