Oxygen reducer: principle of operation, application

By Cristiano Antonino On Aug 25, 2022

The importance of the oxygen reducer: oxygen supply is necessary in some emergency rescue operations (for example, those injured in an accident), as well as during inpatient and home care for sick people suffering from low saturation (percentage of oxyhemoglobin in the blood)

The oxygen dose should be strictly adjusted taking into account the age, current condition and needs of the patient’s body.

For this purpose, an oxygen reducer is used, designed to regulate the flow of O2 gas supplied from the cylinders.

An oxygen reducer is a special device that regulates the gas pressure by reducing the very high incoming pressure to a lower and controlled output pressure.

It keeps it constantly at the same set operating value, despite fluctuations in inlet pressure.

How does an oxygen reducer work?

The most typical oxygen regulator supplied from a cylinder consists of elements such as:

reducing spring;
locking spring;
adjusting screw;
rubber membrane;
nipple;
pressure plate;
intake valve.

The valve is the main element of the device, because it is always under the influence of the inlet and outlet gas pressure, that is, two oppositely directed forces.

The principle of operation of the oxygen reducer

The oxygen in the cylinders is under very high pressure.

It would be extremely dangerous to inject it to the patient in this form, therefore it is necessary to reduce the gas pressure to natural values.

An oxygen regulator is a device that allows oxygen to be supplied at an appropriate constant pressure, regardless of external factors.

This is a necessary solution both during the resuscitation actions of emergency emergency services, and when caring for patients who need medical oxygen supply at home, in a hospital or other specialized medical institution.

Since palliative care is provided by people who do not necessarily have medical education, the equipment they use should be as simple and intuitive as possible in operation.

This is exactly what the oxygen reducer is – it is constructed of high-quality durable materials and does not require special skills.

Importantly, the oxygen pressure regulator is characterized by trouble-free operation.

This reduces the risk of crisis situations and allows for maximum comfort for both the patient in need of oxygen therapy and for the caregivers.

How to set up an oxygen reducer: step by step

Before installing the gearbox, check the sealing ring of the threaded fitting.
Open the cylinder valve. Check the pressure gauge to see if there is enough gas in the cylinder.
Make sure that the gas flow switch at the top of the cylinder is set to zero.
Insert the gearbox directly right up to the click. Connect the tube to the regulator.
Set the regulator to the set flow rate using the flow meter.
Let oxygen into the reducer by slowly opening the cylinder valve counterclockwise.

Why does the gearbox freeze on the oxygen tank?

Condensate is collected in the oxygen tank.

When the gas cools, droplets of moisture freeze to the state of small pieces of ice and can clog the outlet.

This happens only with very rapid oxygen consumption.

Freezing of the gearbox can be prevented by using a 2-chamber gearbox or several cylinders, periodically changing them. However, both are not cheap.

Therefore, there is another option – to install a regulator with a brass body on the oxygen cylinder, which has a high resistance to freezing.

How to clean (flush) the oxygen reducer?

The pressure reducer must be operated in such a way as to exclude the ingress of grease and mechanical damage (scratches, cracks).

If traces of fuel and lubricating oils or other fatty substances are found, the gearbox must be washed in any solvent (aviation kerosene, white spirit, ethyl alcohol, turpentine, etc.).

In order to clean the threaded fittings from dust and dirt particles, they can simply be blown.

What is the difference between an oxygen reducer and a nitrogen, acetylene, carbon dioxide one?

Acetylene, nitrogen and carbon dioxide regulators have the same design and principle of operation as oxygen reducers. Externally, they differ only in the way they are connected to the cylinder valve.

For example, an acetylene reducer is connected to the cylinder by a steel clamp placed on top and tightened with a wrench.

Is it possible to put an oxygen reducer on a carbon dioxide cylinder?

Each gas has its own characteristic properties (ionization, temperature, reactivity, etc.).

Therefore, it is recommended to strictly follow the manufacturer’s specifications and use reducers for cylinders for the intended purpose for which they are intended.

The pressure gauges on oxygen reducers have a maximum pressure of 25.0 MPa (250 atmospheres) at the input and 2.5 MPa (25) at the output.

The maximum is set on the pressure gauges of carbon dioxide reducers: 16.0 Mpa (160) at the inlet and 1.0 Mpa (10) at the outlet.

The safety valves of oxygen and carbon dioxide reducers are also configured for different operating pressure of gases.

In principle, it is technically allowed to use an oxygen reducer instead of a carbon dioxide one, but on the contrary, it is strictly forbidden to install it. This is due to the high risks and danger of explosion of the cylinder.

How to choose an oxygen pressure regulator?

Oxygen reducers are available in various designs and differ in the thickness of the walls of the housing, so many factors must be taken into account when buying.

The following are the criteria for choosing the right device, which should be paid attention to: