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Understanding the hazards of gases Monitoring and prevention of oxygen concentration
Today, we will continue to introduce you to another common gas - oxygen. Speaking of oxygen, everyone is familiar with it. But do you really understand oxygen? It should be noted that high or low oxygen levels in the air can potentially cause safety accidents.
Oxygen (O2) is an important component of the Earth's atmosphere, accounting for approximately 21% of the air volume. As a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, oxygen is crucial for life on Earth, participating in the respiration and energy production of the vast majority of living organisms.
Application of oxygen:
Smelting process - blowing high-purity oxygen during steelmaking process, oxygen reacts with carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, etc., which not only reduces the carbon content of steel, but also helps to remove impurities such as phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, etc.
Chemical industry - In the production of synthetic ammonia, oxygen is mainly used for the oxidation of feed gas to enhance the process and increase fertilizer yield.
Defense industry - Liquid oxygen is the best oxidizer for modern rockets, and it is also needed as an oxidizer in supersonic aircraft. It can also be used to make liquid oxygen explosives.
Healthcare - Providing respiration: Used in hypoxic, low oxygen or anaerobic environments, such as diving operations, mountaineering, high-altitude flying, space navigation, medical rescue, etc.
The hazards of oxygen: The main way oxygen enters the human body is through respiration. Under normal pressure, when the oxygen concentration in the air exceeds 40%, people may experience oxygen poisoning, which can lead to blindness in severe cases. When the oxygen concentration in the air is below 19.5%, there is a risk of hypoxia, leading to suffocation accidents. Oxygen is a combustion supporting gas, and high concentrations of oxygen pose a significant threat to safety production.
The reaction of the human body under different oxygen concentrations
| Oxygen concentration (% volume) | Symptoms (under atmospheric pressure) |
| 100% | Fatal/6 minutes (in an absolutely sealed environment, such as a hyperbaric oxygen chamber or deep water) |
| 50% | Deadly/can be cured within 4-5 minutes after treatment (in an absolutely sealed environment, such as a hyperbaric oxygen chamber) |
| ＞23.5% | Belonging to an oxygen rich environment |
| 20.9% | Normal oxygen concentration |
| 19.5% | Minimum allowable concentration of oxygen |
| 15~19% | Reduce work efficiency and may lead to problems with the head, lungs, and circulatory system |
| 10~12% | Rapid breathing, loss of judgment, purple lips |
| 8~10% | Intellectual loss, fainting, unconsciousness, pale complexion, purple lips, nausea and vomiting |
| 6~8% | Deadly in 8 minutes |
| 4~6% | Within 40 seconds, convulsions occur, breathing stops, and death occurs. |
When the oxygen concentration in the air exceeds 21%, it will expand the explosive limit concentration range of the fuel.
If the oxygen content is high, the self ignition temperature and minimum ignition energy of the material will be significantly reduced, and the substance is easier to ignite, burns faster, generates higher temperatures, and is more difficult to extinguish.
Textiles, even hair, can adsorb gases, and if these materials adsorb oxygen, they are likely to ignite.
In some places, such as confined spaces, comprehensive pipe galleries, etc., attention should be paid to the risk of hypoxia and suffocation.
The main factors that make limited space prone to hypoxia are
1.Long term poor ventilation and low oxygen content in a confined space;
2.Substances present in a limited space undergo oxygen consuming chemical reactions, such as combustion and aerobic respiration of organisms;
3.During the homework process, simple asphyxiating gases are introduced to occupy the oxygen space, such as using nitrogen, argon, and water vapor for cleaning;
4.Leakage or diffusion of certain connected or adjacent equipment or pipelines, such as natural gas leaks;
5.High oxygen consumption rate, such as too many people working in a limited space at the same time.
The importance of oxygen monitoring: In industrial operations, due to the special nature of the workplace, working in enclosed spaces can easily cause hypoxia and suffocation due to insufficient oxygen. In chemical process sites, excessive or insufficient oxygen can have an impact on the results, and in severe cases, it may lead to fires or explosions. Therefore, installing oxygen detectors is crucial. In addition, real-time monitoring of oxygen concentration is crucial for ensuring the safety of workers and equipment in underground utility tunnels.
In general, oxygen, as an important indicator in gas detection, generally has the following meanings:
1.Ensure respiratory safety - normal human respiration relies on oxygen in the air. If the oxygen concentration in the air is below 19.5%, it may cause suffocation; If the oxygen concentration is too high, it may cause fires or health problems.
2.Preventing fires and explosions - Oxygen is one of the three necessary conditions for combustion. In environments with high oxygen concentrations, combustible gases or dust may cause fires or explosions.
3.Monitoring environmental health - In industrial environments, changes in oxygen concentration may indicate the presence of other harmful gas leaks or potential hazards.
4.Ensuring work safety - Detecting oxygen concentration is an important step in ensuring the safety of workers before conducting confined space operations or entering potentially oxygen deficient environments.
5.Support for other gas detection - When conducting gas detection, oxygen is usually detected first to ensure sufficient oxygen to support combustion reactions, and then combustible and toxic gases are detected.
6.Maintaining equipment performance - In the automotive industry, oxygen sensors are used to monitor the oxygen content in engine emissions, help adjust the air-fuel ratio, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce harmful emissions.
7.Emergency response and accident prevention - In emergency situations, rapid and accurate measurement of oxygen concentration is crucial for assessing environmental safety and taking appropriate measures.
Oxygen safety solutions for industrial sites
By installing oxygen detectors and gas alarm controllers in the factory area, oxygen concentration can be monitored 24 hours a day without interruption to prevent potential problems. When the oxygen concentration in the environment reaches or exceeds the preset value, the alarm and controller will promptly emit sound and light alarm signals to remind the on duty personnel to take emergency measures, effectively avoiding the occurrence of oxygen enrichment or hypoxia accidents.
Limited space oxygen monitoring scheme
When carrying out confined space operations, it is necessary to wear a portable gas detector, follow the correct operating procedures, and prevent accidents from occurring.
- The homework approval system must be strictly implemented, and unauthorized entry into confined spaces for work is strictly prohibited.
- must achieve "ventilation first, testing later, and operation later". Before conducting internal inspections, it is necessary to ventilate for 30 minutes. Continuous ventilation is necessary during the work process. Ventilation and inspection of unqualified operations are strictly prohibited.
- must be equipped with personal protective equipment against poisoning and suffocation, set up safety warning signs, and strictly prohibit operations without protective supervision measures.
- Safety training must be provided to the operators, and it is strictly prohibited for those who fail the education and training to work on the job.
- Emergency measures must be formulated, emergency equipment must be equipped on site, and blind rescue is strictly prohibited.
Recommended instruments
CA228 series fixed oxygen detector
High performance and high-quality sensors, with sensitive response and fast detection;
Remote control operation, can remotely control the instrument, safer to use;
Integrated sound and light setting, independent use;
Built in wireless module, can connect to Smart Cloud Platform.
360 degree alarm light with more prominent alarm information;
CA-2100H Gas Detector
High sensitivity sensor, high accuracy, fast response;
Triple alarm of sound, light, and vibration;
The body is small, lightweight, sturdy and resistant to falls;
Waterproof, dustproof, explosion-proof, suitable for use in limited spaces.
Oxygen is the gas that humans rely on for survival. Whether in industrial safety, environmental monitoring, or personal protection, measuring oxygen concentration is an indispensable part of gas detection. Real time monitoring of oxygen concentration is necessary to ensure better "breathing" for human and environmental safety.