Oxygen generator - generating higher PSI for storage.

[IslandDiversHI]

Dear SB community,

I'm hoping that there is already a solution out there for what I would like to do, which is: use an oxygen generator to create and then store 2250 to 3000psi 100% (or nearly 100%) oxygen in 220cf storage bottles.

While I have found a number of oxygen generating systems, I have not yet identified a good method/product for generating a large amount of O2 and getting it up to pressure. We are storing it for later use in partial pressure blending.

We have some local expertise on hand (not me), but I'm hoping that this is a a problem that someone has already solved with a system that I can just buy "off the shelf" so to speak. I'm guessing that there is no such product as I've spent some time looking. If that is the case I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I might also be willing to hire someone to come to HI and put a system like that together for me.

 

[lonebrave]

I don't know whether or not to assume you've seen this or not, since they are a local company, but it seems like it's close to what you are looking for. O2 Generation

 

[CraigAClark]

Dear SB community,

I'm hoping that there is already a solution out there for what I would like to do, which is: use an oxygen generator to create and then store 2250 to 3000psi 100% (or nearly 100%) oxygen in 220cf storage bottles.

While I have found a number of oxygen generating systems, I have not yet identified a good method/product for generating a large amount of O2 and getting it up to pressure. We are storing it for later use in partial pressure blending.

We have some local expertise on hand (not me), but I'm hoping that this is a a problem that someone has already solved with a system that I can just buy "off the shelf" so to speak. I'm guessing that there is no such product as I've spent some time looking. If that is the case I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I might also be willing to hire someone to come to HI and put a system like that together for me.

Using a PSA system, you would need a space about 6'x6' with an 10' ceiling and good ventilation to produce 93% +/- 3% O2 @ 2cfm to 2250 psi. 10'x10' could squeeze in the additional equipment to bring it up to 99%.

 

[manni-yunk]

I don't know whether or not to assume you've seen this or not, since they are a local company, but it seems like it's close to what you are looking for. O2 Generation

Ive never seen this. Very cool. Im sure that over time, for areas where 100% o2 is tough to find and sellable - this makes sense. Probably could never make sense for most of us - but curiously - what is the ballpark of this?

 

[CraigAClark]

The Rix micro-boost compressor (unit sitting on the shelf) was $4800.00 last time I bought one to build a system. That was about 5 years ago.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/co...l-oxygen-generator-small-volume-nitrox-2.html

There is a picture of a 99% purity unit that is rated @ 2 cfm to 2250 psi in the above linked thread.

 

[lonebrave]

Ive never seen this. Very cool. Im sure that over time, for areas where 100% o2 is tough to find and sellable - this makes sense. Probably could never make sense for most of us - but curiously - what is the ballpark of this?

I have no idea on cost, but I'm pretty sure I know of at least one dive shop on-island that is using it, along with Rubber Duckies nitrox stick and controller.

 

[DepthCharge]

I don't know whether or not to assume you've seen this or not, since they are a local company, but it seems like it's close to what you are looking for. O2 Generation

Says 96% purity......think that maybe a touch high. Anyone venture to guess what the remaining 4+% is???????? Try argon......do a little research on the effects of argon in diving situations..
Later,
John

 

[manni-yunk]

Says 96% purity......think that maybe a touch high. Anyone venture to guess what the remaining 4+% is???????? Try argon......do a little research on the effects of argon in diving situations..
Later,
John

Help me out. Will 4% argon do....much of anything? Its an inert gas? It displaces Oxygen in air....but so does helium and we breathe that all the time in tech diving.

Im not advocating that people start mixing argon onto breathing tanks - just asking what 4% argon will do in a "diving situation" if the appropriate oxygen content is there and has ont been displaced by the argon?

Yes - argon is also more narcotic - but since we are talking about a 96% o2 mix - we have to assume we are breathing it at shallow depths - so at a shallow depth will the narcotic effect of the 4% argon even matter?

In a higher percentage of argon-there is the potential for argon suffocation, but - at shallow depth and a 96% mix of O2 - I cant see the 4% argon meaning much of anything???

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Re: argon issue: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ask-dr-decompression/347835-2%ar-ok-35%-nitrox.html It's not toxic, and can actually be used for a great deco gas...

4% argon in a 96% O2 mix is irrelevant. Argon's main problem for diving is its greater narcotic effect, which is depth-dependent like any other inert gas. If the OP is using 96% O2 for deco mix, the 4% argon won't have any narcotic effect at ~20'. If it's going into a EAN mix for depth, the argon will be severely dilluted by air.

 

[lonebrave]

Says 96% purity......think that maybe a touch high. Anyone venture to guess what the remaining 4+% is???????? Try argon......do a little research on the effects of argon in diving situations..
Later,
John

Not intended to take this completely off topic (looks like I don't type too fast when having to do math ;-) ), but for someone not trimix/tech trained and genuinely interested in this question: is 4% argon that bad?

I understand that it is 'highly' narcotic, and at some PP argon will cause problems. But is that relevant to this intended use? If we take one extreme case (target of 100% O2), there would be 4% argon and 96% O2 being breathed at 20fsw. Is 0.064 PAr enough to cause narcosis?

There are other cases to look at, maybe the OP is intending to blend Trimix for deep diving. Would there ever be enough Ar in the mix to have a PAr high enough to cause narcosis?