Gas Cylinders

Question 1

Compressed Gas (nonliquified) Defined

Answer 1

Remains gas at ordinary temp & pressure, at very low temp becomes “cryogenic liquid”

Question 2

Examples of nonliquified gas

Answer 2

Oxygen, nitrogen, helium, air

Question 3

Compressed Gas (liquified) Defined

Answer 3

Becomes liquid in a container at ordinary temp & pressure

Question 4

Examples of liquified gas

Answer 4

Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide

Question 5

Non flammable gas definition

Answer 5

will not burn, supports combustion or explode - some can extinguish flames

Question 6

Combustion supporting gas definition

Answer 6

Increases rate/intensity of anything thats burning/could burn. Minimum of 15 feet from flame

Question 7

Flammable gas definition

Answer 7

can be readily ignited, explosive in the presence of oxygen

Question 8

What would you do with a fire in the airway?

Answer 8

Turn off oxygen and pull ETT quickly

Question 9

Air - color code, price, compressed?

Answer 9

Yellow, usually free & readily available, can be compressed from the atmosphere, may also be synthetically produced

Question 10

Helium - color code & characteristics

Answer 10

Brown, chemically inert, lighter than air, colorless, odorless, nonflammable, will not support life

Question 11

Oxygen - color code, characteristics

Answer 11

Green, colorless, odorless, tasteless, supports life, non-flammable, supports combustion, liquid at -300 F, produces oxides in combinations

Question 12

HeliOx - what it is

Answer 12

Helium/Oxygen mixture, usually 20-40% O2. Reduces airway resistance, most commonly used because it reduces airway fires during laser surgery

Question 13

Nitrous Oxide - color code, characteristics

Answer 13

Blue, 75-80% in liquid form (at room temperature is a liquid at 747 psig). Will not get low reading until all liquid is gone

Question 14

A full E cylinder contains how much nitrous oxide?

Answer 14

1590 L

Question 15

Carbon Dioxide - color code, characteristics

Answer 15

Grey, colorless, odorless, acidic taste, will not support life, non-flammable/does not burn,

Question 16

How much carbon dioxide comes in and goes out per minute normally?

Answer 16

250 in, 200 out per minute, some of it is metabolized

Question 17

Most common gas cylinder in health care?

Answer 17

E cylinder

Question 18

How much oxygen does an E cylinder hold?

Answer 18

660 L at 1900 psig

Question 19

How much oxygen does a H cylinder hold?

Answer 19

6900 L at 2200 psig

Question 20

What color code is nitrogen

Answer 20

Black

Question 21

What does psig mean?

Answer 21

pounds per square inch gauge, difference between measured pressure & surrounding atmosphere.

Question 22

Calculating cylinder gas volume (equation)

Answer 22

Duration of gas flow in minutes =
gauge pressure (PSI) x cylinder conversion factor (0.28)
——————————————-
gas flow (L/min)

Question 23

If you have 1200 psi and gas flow is running at 4 L/min, how long do can you run on that tank?

Answer 23

84 minutes

Question 24

What is the pin index safety system?

Answer 24

PISS - each gas has it’s own unique PIN position so the wrong cylinder should not be able to be mounted

Question 25

Cylinder safety

Answer 25

Only handled by trained personnel, no oil/grease/lubricants on valves/regulators/gauges or fittings, Temp -7 C to 54 C, tight connections, do not obstruct pressure relief device, do not cross use regulators/hoses, do not use reducer adapters, keep valves closed when not in use, ID cylinder, remove cover, check for washer, PISS, open slowly, check reading

Question 26

Central oxygen contains how much?

Answer 26

7.3 million L O2

Question 27

NFPA requirements for liquid oxygen supply

Answer 27

25-50 ft from hospital or flammable gas/gas storage or wooden structure, on asphalt/concrete, fenced, posted no smoking/open flame

Question 28

What is diameter index safety system?

Answer 28

DISS - prevents pipeline from wall being connected to the wrong inlet on the machine

Question 29

What does the US Department of Transportation do for gas cylinders?

Answer 29

Regulates construction & handling of all medical compressed gas cylinders (design, construction, testing, marking, labeling, filling, storage, handling, maintenance, transportation), requires periodic visual inspection, inspecting cylinders every 5 years for dents, gouges, arc burns, & physical stress. Also transportation of gas cylinders

Question 30

How to test cylinders

Answer 30

Hydrostatic test checks for leaks, cylinder expansion & wall stress – cylinder is filled with water and then submerged in water, it is then pressurized to 3000 psig which will cause slight expansion - should return to original size when pressure is released with no change in water level measurement.

Question 31

How does a cylinder fail a test?

Answer 31

If it displaces more water after than before pressurization, it has residual expansion– if it’s s original size can use it for 5 years, if more than 10% it will be removed from medical use