CHAPTER 10
LIQUID AND GASEOUS OXYGEN SYSTEMS AND
EQUIPMENT
INTRODUCTION
oxygen itself is not combustible, it strongly supports
a n d r a p i d l y a c c e l e r a t e s t h e c o m bu s t i o n o f a l l
As an Aviation Support Equipment Technician,
flammable materials, some to an explosive degree. If
you will be responsible for maintaining oxygen
compressed oxygen becomes mixed with hydrogen or
handling equipment. To do so, you will have to be able
grease, for example, the combination becomes highly
to operate the equipment as well as perform preventive
explosive. You should NEVER allow combustible
and corrective maintenance procedures. This course
material to come into contact with compressed
covers the properties of liquid and gaseous oxygen,
oxygen.
storage devices, equipment for delivering oxygen to
Probably the most important property of oxygen is
the users, and safety procedures for protecting the
that it is the element in air that supports life. If the right
equipment and yourself.
amount of oxygen is not present in the atmosphere,
people, animals, insects, and most bacteria cannot live.
OXYGEN
In high-altitude flying or in confined spaces, it is
necessary to supply air for breathing from some
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify the
outside source. Therefore, one of the important uses of
properties of liquid and gaseous oxygen.
oxygen in the Navy is to furnish a supply to people who
I d e n t i f y p r o c e d u r e s f o r p r eve n t i n g
would otherwise face a lack of oxygen.
contamination to liquid and gaseous oxygen
NOTE: Some of the tasks presented in this course,
systems. Identify safety procedures for liquid
such as filling an aircraft LOX converter, are not
and gaseous oxygen systems.
n o r m a l l y p e r f o r m e d b y a n Av i a t i o n S u p p o r t
Equipment Technician. However, the tasks are
Oxygen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that
included here on the assumption that to fix the
makes up about 21 percent of the atmosphere. The rest
equipment, you have to know how it works.
of the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen (78 percent)
Q10-1. What is the term used for rapid or
and inert gases (1 percent). Although oxygen is found
spontaneous oxidation?
in many compounds, such as water, limestone, sand,
and iron ore, it occurs as free oxygen only in the
1.
Combustion
atmosphere. It can also exist as a solid or liquid (LOX),
2.
Explosion
depending upon the temperature and pressure to which
3.
Erosion
it is subjected. Of all the elements in our environment,
4.
Flash corrosion
oxygen is the most plentiful.
Q10-2. Which of the following type of materials
Oxygen is a very reactive material because it will
should you NEVER allow compressed oxygen
combine with most other chemical elements. The
to come into contact with?
union of oxygen with another substance is called
1.
Liquids
oxidation. Some examples of oxidation are rusting of
2.
Solids
iron, drying of paints, and the changing of alcohol into
3.
Biodegradable
vinegar.
4.
Combustibles
Oxidation normally produces heat. Extremely
rapid or spontaneous oxidation is called combustion.
LIQUID OXYGEN (LOX)
Usually, the heat from oxidation is dissipated fast
enough that temperatures do not rise significantly. If,
however, heat is given off so rapidly that it does not
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify the
have time to be dissipated, the temperature may rise so
components of liquid oxygen systems.
high that spontaneous combustion occurs. While
Recognize the working relationships among
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