How is Oxygen Generated and Distributed in Hospitals?

If you ever visit the operational unit of a hospital, you will notice a surgeon control panel. This panel controls the high and low-voltage systems. But have you ever wondered how oxygen is generated in a hospital? This blog aims to give you a brief description of oxygen generation in hospitals. Scroll down and give it a read!

Oxygen Generation

Oxygen is generated in hospitals by an advanced machine system called an oxygen generator plant. This system produces high-quality oxygen, which is circulated throughout the hospital for patient use. The process of producing oxygen in an oxygen plant is called cryogenic distillation. In this process, the oxygen required is removed from the atmospheric air. Let’s breakdown the process in the following steps:

Compression

The oxygen generator plant intakes atmospheric air and compresses it to elevate the air pressure in the system. The compressed air is then passed into the next stage.

Purification

The compressed air is then purified to remove impurities like dust, moisture, CO2, and oil. The purification process involves multiple filtration processes, like particulate, activated carbon, and moisture filtration. 

Cooling and Liquefaction

The purified air is passed to a refrigerator, which is cooled and condensed. The condensed air is liquefied with multiple heat exchangers, refrigeration cycles, and expansion valves. The liquid air is then passed down for fractional distillation.

Fractional Distillation

The liquid air mixture is distilled inside a distillation column. The process separates different components from the mixtures based on the differences in boiling points. The column is kept at a low temperature of -300 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Oxygen Separation and Collection

The oxygen is thus separated from the mixture and collected separately. The collected oxygen undergoes a series of purification processes to ensure it is safe for hospital use. 

Storage

The purified oxygen is stored in oxygen cylinders and tanks under controlled conditions. 

Distribution

The medical gas pipeline system is the crucial apparatus that distributes purified oxygen to every corner of a hospital where necessary. The network is connected to every hospital room where patients are kept for treatment, like general wards, ICUs, and operation theatres. 

Conclusion

This was a short description of how oxygen is distributed in hospitals. If you are one of the representatives of a hospital authority, you must want the best system to generate oxygen and distribute it seamlessly throughout the hospital unit. Please compare multiple brands and finally choose the best fit for your hospital.