An oxygen tank is an oxygen storage vessel, which is either held under

pressure Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and eve ...

gas cylinder A gas cylinder is a pressure vessel for storage and containment of gases at above atmospheric pressure. Gas storage cylinders may also be called ''bottles''. Inside the cylinder the stored contents may be in a state of compressed gas, vapor ov ...

s, referred to in the industry as high pressure oxygen cylinders, or as liquid oxygen in a

cryogenic In physics, cryogenics is the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures. The 13th International Institute of Refrigeration's (IIR) International Congress of Refrigeration (held in Washington, DC in 1971) endorsed a univers ...

storage tank Storage tanks are containers that hold liquids or compressed gases. The term can be used for reservoirs (artificial lakes and ponds), and for manufactured containers. The usage of the word "tank" for reservoirs is uncommon in American English ...

Uses

Oxygen tanks are used to store gas for: * medical

breathing Breathing (spiration or ventilation) is the rhythmical process of moving air into ( inhalation) and out of ( exhalation) the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxy ...

(

oxygen therapy Oxygen therapy, also referred to as supplemental oxygen, is the use of oxygen as medical treatment. Supplemental oxygen can also refer to the use of oxygen enriched air at altitude. Acute indications for therapy include hypoxemia (low blood o ...

) at medical facilities and at home (high pressure cylinder) * breathing at altitude in aviation, either in a decompression emergency, or constantly (as in unpressurized aircraft), usually in high pressure cylinders * oxygen first aid sets, in small portable high pressure cylinders * gas blending, for mixing breathing gases such as nitrox, trimix and heliox * open-circuit

scuba set A scuba set, originally just scuba, is any breathing apparatus that is entirely carried by an underwater diving, underwater diver and provides the diver with breathing gas at the ambient pressure. ''Scuba'' is an anacronym for self-contained un ...

s - mainly used for accelerated decompression in

technical diving Technical diving (also referred to as tec diving or tech diving) is scuba diving that exceeds the List of diver certification organizations, agency-specified limits of recreational diving for non-Professional diver, professional purposes. Technica ...

, in high pressure cylinders * some types of diving rebreather: oxygen rebreathers and fully closed circuit rebreathers, usually in high pressure cylinders * use in climbing, " Bottled oxygen" refers to oxygen in lightweight high pressure cylinders for mountaineering * industrial processes, including the manufacture of

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

and monel * oxyacetylene

welding Welding is a fabrication (metal), fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, primarily by using high temperature to melting, melt the parts together and allow them to cool, causing Fusion welding, fusion. Co ...

equipment, glass lampworking torches, and some gas cutting torches, usually in high pressure cylinders * use as liquid rocket propellants for

rocket engine A rocket engine is a reaction engine, producing thrust in accordance with Newton's third law by ejecting reaction mass rearward, usually a high-speed Jet (fluid), jet of high-temperature gas produced by the combustion of rocket propellants stor ...

s, usually as liquid oxygen at ambient pressure * athletes, specifically on

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

sidelines, to expedite recovery after exertion, in high-pressure cylinders. Breathing oxygen is delivered from the storage tank to users by use of the following methods:

oxygen mask An oxygen mask is a mask that provides a method to transfer breathing gas, breathing oxygen gas from a storage tank to the lungs. Oxygen masks may cover only the nose and mouth (oral nasal mask) or the entire face (full-face mask). They may be ma ...

nasal cannula The nasal cannula (NC) is a device used to deliver supplemental oxygen or increased airflow to a patient or person in need of respiratory help. This device consists of a lightweight tube which on one end splits into two prongs which are place ...

, full face diving mask, diving helmet, demand valve, oxygen rebreather, built in breathing system (BIBS), oxygen tent, and hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Contrary to popular belief most scuba divers do not carry oxygen tanks. The vast majority of divers breathe air or nitrox stored in a diving cylinder. A small minority breathe trimix, heliox or other exotic gases. Some may carry pure oxygen for accelerated decompression or as supply gas to a rebreather. Some shallow divers, particularly naval combat divers, use oxygen rebreathers, and they use a small oxygen cylinder to provide the gas. Oxygen is rarely held at pressures higher than , due to the risks of fire triggered by high temperatures caused by adiabatic heating when the gas changes pressure when moving from one vessel to another. Medical use liquid oxygen ''airgas'' tanks are typically . All equipment coming into contact with high pressure oxygen must be "oxygen clean" and "oxygen compatible", to reduce the risk of

fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion re ...

. "Oxygen clean" means the removal of any substance that could act as a source of ignition. "Oxygen compatible" means that internal components must not burn readily or degrade easily in a high pressure oxygen environment. In some countries there are legal and insurance requirements and restrictions on the use, storage and transport of pure oxygen. Oxygen tanks are normally stored in well-ventilated locations, far from potential sources of fire and concentrations of people.

References

{{Reflist Underwater breathing apparatus Decompression equipment Pressure vessels

Tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...

Gas technologies

Uses

See also

References