2016B08 Describe how the vacuum-insulated oxygen evaporator works.

 

List:

·     Diagramme

·     Function

·     Pros

·     Cons

 

Diagramme

How it works

Storage of O2:

·     Critical temp -118°C

·     Boiling point -180°C

·     Produced en masse by fractional distillation of air

·     Transported to VIE

·     Stored as liquid with saturated vapour

·     Kept outside in gated area

If pressure too low: (e.g. oxygen taken from pipeline supply)

·     If mild drop: vapourisation of liquid O2

·     If severe drop: liquid O2 passed through pressure-raising vapouriser

·     Vapourisation maintains low temperature

·     Cold gaseous O2 passed through superheater (just coils exposed to ambient air, not actively heated)

·     Alarms

If pressure too high:

·     Safety release valve 7atm

·     Pressure regulator 4atm

·     Alarms

Pros

·  Large capacity compared with cylinder manifold

·  No active cooling required, very energy efficient

Cons

·  Expensive

·  Big

 

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