How do I get NITROX?

[Teller]

This might be a dumb question but do you need a special compressor to get nitrox fills?

 

[Dr Wu]

This might be a dumb question but do you need a special compressor to get nitrox fills?

No you do not.

 

[a22shady]

You need to be Nitrox Certified. As far as a special compressor no But it needs to be 02 cleaned and have special Filter. Most diveshop's can do Nitrox fills but you haver to be certified.

 

[spectrum]

This might be a dumb question but do you need a special compressor to get nitrox fills?

Nitrox is produced in 3 different manners.

1) Oxygen will be filled into the cylinder to a pressure that will result in the correct pressure when topped off with regular compressed air. Some shops will drain the cylinder to make this a no brainer. It's possible to check the existing O2 content and pressure and determining the oxygen pressure rise that will get you to the right mix with a little software (or calculations). One down side is that you end up with a considerable amount of purchased oxygen that is not at enough pressure to fill to a usable pressure so there is waste or you invest in a booster pump.

2) Oxygen is blended with the air going into the compressor at the correct ratio. This uses what's called a blending stick. It's a chamber that mixes the gasses to disperse high oxygen content that could promote an explosion. Since the oxygen is dispensed at ambient pressure you can use all that you buy.

3) A membrane system can be used to strip out a portion of he big nitrogen molecules leaving an percentage of oxygen in the resulting gas mix. Tire shops use a perverted version of this to let the oxygen out of your tire air for nitrogen fills. This is probably the most common high volume method used at resorts and high volume locations.

Many shops will bulk blend in standard blends like 32% and 36% for direct filling. What you can get locally will depend on local usage.

You need to be certified in a specialty course to buy and use nitrox. The actual diving is nothing special but you need to understand some limits, dive planning and gas testing.

So while you don't need a special compressor you usually end up needing some special accessories to get nitrox fills. In this context I'm talking about fills up to 40%. Higher concentrations can elevate some needs.

Unless you get very serious abut mixed gas diving you will simply buy what is available.

Pete

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

One thing to note that if you are going to put NITROX through your compressor, standard compressor oil (mineral or synthetic) wont do. You have to use food grade synthetic oil other wise you risk your compressor blowing cylindes and then troughing them at you and belching
fire afterwords. You should also limit your mix to 40% or less for the same reason as mentioned above.
ZDD

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

Hopefully all the information posted here, especially the various ways Nitrox can be blended, will be covered in your upcoming Nitrox course!

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

Nitrox is produced in 3 different manners.


3) A membrane system can be used to strip out a portion of he big nitrogen molecules leaving an percentage of oxygen in the resulting gas mix. Tire shops use a perverted version of this to let the oxygen out of your tire air for nitrogen fills. This is probably the most common high volume method used at resorts and high volume locations.

Pete

Actually Nitrogen molecues are smaller than Oxygen. Each nitrogen molecule has 7 electrons versus 8 for Oxygen. And both elements are di-atomic, meaning they are bonded to another matching molecule, hence N2 and O2. Check your periodic table of the elements for more info!

 

[CraigAClark]

You need to be Nitrox Certified. As far as a special compressor no But it needs to be 02 cleaned and have special Filter. Most diveshop's can do Nitrox fills but you haver to be certified.

How do you O2 clean an oil lubricated compressor and what is a "special" filter?

Craig

 

[Underwater Ogre]

The special filter is the one you pay more for

 

[Wookie]

As far as a special compressor no But it needs to be 02 cleaned and have special Filter.

Ummm. No, but thanks for your input.

One thing to note that if you are going to put NITROX through your compressor, standard compressor oil (mineral or synthetic) wont do. You have to use food grade synthetic oil other wise you risk your compressor blowing cylindes and then troughing them at you and belching
fire afterwords.
ZDD

Ummm. Nope, but thanks for yours too.

Actually Nitrogen molecues are smaller than Oxygen. Each nitrogen molecule has 7 electrons versus 8 for Oxygen. And both elements are di-atomic, meaning they are bonded to another matching molecule, hence N2 and O2. Check your periodic table of the elements for more info!

True, Dave, but so? Membranes were not designed at all to make nitrox, but to make high volumes of low pressure nitrogen for inerting railcars full of fruit to prevent spoilage on the way to market. The nitrox was a by-product of this process, and thrown away. Rutkowski figured out how to use the waste product and now we throw away the nitrogen.

For the OP, do you want to make nitrox or buy it. You don't need a compressor at all to get nitrox, you can walk into your local dive shop and buy all you want, pretty much. If you want to make it, a gas blender course would be of great benefit to you.