GAS GUIDE
Oxygen Compression
Oxygen service is a cleaning discipline before it is a machine discipline.
Oxygen service is a cleaning discipline before it is a machine discipline: any hydrocarbon residue in an oxygen-enriched environment becomes an ignition source. Every component must be degreased and certified oxygen-clean, and copper-bearing alloys are excluded in high-pressure oxygen service.
The properties that drive the choice
| Molecular weight | 31.999 |
|---|---|
| Isentropic exponent k (ambient) | 1.395 |
| Hazard profile | oxidising |
| Oil-free | Mandatory |
Which families serve it
| Family | Role in this service | Envelope | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diaphragm | The reference for oxygen: oil-free by construction, static seals, small-to-moderate flow | 1–900 bar(g) | family page → |
| Reciprocating | Oil-free (labyrinth or PTFE rider-band) construction at larger flow | to 400 bar(g) | family page → |
| Dry screw | Large flows at low pressure, oil-free by definition | to 45 bar(g), differential ≤ 15 bar | family page → |
Where the boundaries sit
- Oil-free, always — any hydrocarbon residue in an oxygen-enriched environment is an ignition source; an oil-injected machine is never the answer
- Copper-bearing alloys are excluded in high-pressure oxygen service
- Oxygen-clean assembly, degreasing certification and packaging are RFQ line items, not workshop details
Materials
Oil-free construction mandatory. Avoid copper and copper alloys above ambient pressure oxygen; specify oxygen-clean assembly and packaging as a line item in the RFQ.
Related reading
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