Saturday 25 January 2014

Facts Concerning Cryogenic Gases That Are Worth Understanding

By Grace Rivas


Cryogenic gases are gases that are kept in either liquid or gaseous form at extremely low temperatures. They have boiling points of low than -150 degrees Celsius. At normal temperature and pressure, these substances exist in their gaseous form. They usually have 2 main characteristics. The first characteristic is, when liquefied, small quantities of liquid can melt into very large quantities of gas. The 2nd property is that they are very cold.

Because of their low temperatures, they condense the atmospheric air to create fog that can be seen by the eyes. When stored in tanks that are poorly insulated, they condense the surrounding air to form a mixture of air and liquid. According to the WHMIS criteria, they are classified as compressed gasses.

Every cryogenic substance has its own properties, although most of them can be placed in one of the following classes. The classes are, oxygen, inert and flammable gasses. Any inert gas does not have much chemical reaction with other substances. They include neon, Oregon, krypton, and nitrogen. Flammable gas can burn in atmospheric air. Common examples are liquefied natural gas, methane, and hydrogen among others. Most substances considered non-combustible burn when mixed with liquid oxygen. This makes it important to handle oxygen with precautions that are different from those of other cryogenics.

These substances are used, stored, and transported in highly insulated containers. The containers are constructed in a manner as to endure quick changes in temperature and great differences in temperature. Examples of containers utilized include gas cylinders, laboratory liquid dewar flasks, and liquid dewar flasks. Gas cylinders comprise valves for filling up and dispensing the gas and pressure-regulating valves with frangible disks to act as backup protection.

There are many health hazards connected to these substances and care must be taken in handling them. The health dangers are classified into 3 groups, that is, asphyxiation, extreme cold, and toxicity. The cold gas and the associated vapor may cause effects on skins similar in appearance and effect as thermal burns. Brief exposures that cannot affect skins can affect delicate tissues such as eyes. Other effects are frostbite, pain, lung damage, and sticking on cold surfaces.

Most of these gases are normally heavier than atmospheric air. They therefore displace air and settle on the floor creating a shortage of oxygen. Oxygen deficiency can cause asphyxiation and death eventually. It is therefore not recommended to handle the materials in enclosed rooms with poor ventilation. Substances such as carbon monoxide are highly toxic and can cause death in minutes if they leak into the environment.

These substances have many uses in various domestic, governmental and industrial applications. First, the liquefied forms are utilized as fuels in fuelling rockets and other high-velocity planes. Other applications consist of food and blood preservation, magnetic resonance imaging, electrical power transmission, forward looking infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Certain rare blood groups need to be kept under extremely low temperature to remain useful. They are also utilized in making detectors.

Of all Cryogenic gases, liquid nitrogen is the most widely used. It is legal for purchase and can be purchased from anywhere around the world. Dewar flasks are seemingly the best storage units used.




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