Clean Oxygen Compressors and Gas Boosters

 

A pure gas, oxygen finds wide-ranging application across a broad variety of industries. It serves as a crucial resource in various manufacturing processes, supporting the production of chemicals, glass and steel, among other products. It also plays a pivotal role in medical settings and in wastewater treatment. In all these applications, ensuring the highest levels of equipment cleanliness is key for preventing gas impurities and gas-related accidents.

Haskel designs and manufactures the highest-quality O2 compressors and gas boosters. They are the industry benchmark for safety, performance and reliability. Noted for their cleanliness, our products can safely handle oxygen and other high-purity gases.

Haskel cleans their oxygen service compressors to international standards and assembles them in a strictly controlled clean-room environment. Haskel also offer oxygen cleaning as an aftermarket service for users of oxygen-cleaned equipment.

Haskel’s portfolio comprises an extensive range of oxygen-cleaned compressed air equipment for pure gas applications that includes:

• Pneumatic gas boosters able to produce oxygen pressures of up to 5,000 psi (345 bar). They deliver safe pneumatic operation with no heat, flame or spark risk. They are ideal for oxygen pressure increases, high-pressure gas transference, cylinder charging and scavenging.
• Electric gas compressors powered by an electric servo drive motor. Equipped with smart, sustainable technology, our small-footprint Q-Drive Series compressors offer superior energy efficiency while providing industry-leading performance. They can generate pressures of up to 5,000 psi (345 bar) for oxygen service (other gases can be compressed to higher pressures).

What Are Oxygen Compressors and Gas Boosters?

Gas boosters are a type of compressor capable of producing very high gas pressures. They find extensive use in sectors including oil and gas, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. In the oil and gas industry, for instance, gas boosters help transport natural gas through pipelines by maintaining the required pressure.

Oxygen boosters are specially cleaned gas boosters or compressors designed and cleaned specifically to increase the pressure of gaseous oxygen. These compressors play a vital role in various pure gas applications, where the need for concentrated oxygen is crucial. They commonly support processes in industries such as medical, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing.

Overall, oxygen compressors enable efficient storage, transportation, and use of oxygen in specialized contexts where purity and pressure are pivotal factors.

How Do the Particular Oxygen Compressor Types Differ?

Oxygen-cleaned compressed air equipment includes pneumatic gas boosters and electric gas compressors. The operating principles of these compressors differ. The choice of the optimal compressor type usually depends on factors such as the required pressure range, flow requirements and control needs.

Pneumatic gas boosters utilize compressed air as the driving force. These boosters consist of a piston mechanism enclosed within a cylinder. Compressed air on one side of the piston creates a reciprocating motion on the other side. The motion subsequently increases the pressure of the incoming gas.

Pneumatic gas boosters are often preferable when electrical power sources are limited or not feasible. This is typically because of safety concerns, such as in explosive or flammable environments. They are also the go-to solution when simplicity and ease of maintenance are priorities. Pneumatic systems typically have fewer components and require less intricate servicing.

Electric gas boosters are compressors that utilize electricity to increase the pressure of a gas. These boosters feature an electric motor drive. They find utility in a range of industries, such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and even in certain energy production processes.

Electric gas boosters are typically in use when a process requires continuous and automated pressure adjustments. They offer the advantage of precise pressure regulation and the capability to integrate with digital systems.

The Importance of Oxygen Cleaning

As oxygen is a highly reactive gas, proper cleaning and cleanliness control are crucial to its safe handling. High-purity gases can pick up contaminants that increase the risk of unintended combustion. Reducing this risk is a key consideration when operating O2 compressors and gas boosters. It requires the use of oxygen-cleaned equipment.

Oxygen-cleaned compressors undergo a thorough cleaning process to ensure they are suitable for use with oxygen-rich gases in critical applications. This helps to minimize the risk of contamination and ensure the highest level of safety when handling oxygen./p>

The cleaning process for oxygen-cleaned compressors involves the removal of potentially hazardous substances such as oils, grease and dirt. These contaminants can react with oxygen, sometimes resulting in an oxygen fueled fire. Regularly following best practices for maintenance and cleaning oxygen compression equipment helps users to avoid this unwelcome scenario.

Proper guidance on handling oxygen products is key to avoiding accidents and ensuring personnel and equipment safety. Haskel has developed stringent guidelines for oxygen cleaning best practices. We utilize them in the design and manufacture of our oxygen boosters and systems. These guidelines meet the US MIL-STD-1330D, UK DEF STAN 68-278 and QAD-154 standards.

We have been successfully implementing our high-purity gas cleaning processes in a variety of service scenarios, both military and commercial. When following our best practices, organizations can reduce risks and ensure safer procedures in the usage of oxygen-cleaned products.

There is extra cost associated with thoroughly dismantling, cleaning and reassembling high-purity gas-handling equipment in a clean room. However, the costs of not following such a process, including potential combustion risks, far exceed the expense.

For additional information, download a copy of Haskel's Oxygen Cleaning Best Practices eBook or contact your local distributor today about our products and services.