Oxygen Service Dangers
Oxygen Service Dangers
(OP)
Does anyone know of a reason that it would be unwise to use carbon steel for ball valve bodies when used in an oxygen service environment? The valves, of course, would be cleaned and degreased, and we are talking about industrial O2 services, not breathable O2.
We have an old (20+ year) note from someone in our files that warns that carbon steel should not be used in O2 services due to the danger of impurities in the steel causing combustion. I have looked, but can't find any information that supports this assertion.
We have an old (20+ year) note from someone in our files that warns that carbon steel should not be used in O2 services due to the danger of impurities in the steel causing combustion. I have looked, but can't find any information that supports this assertion.





RE: Oxygen Service Dangers
AirProducts says that rust particle may travel with the flow and impinge on something, and the impingement may provide sufficient energy for ignition. They also remind us that, so far as oxygen is concerned, steel is fuel, so only an ignition source is missing from the fire triad.
See AirProducts SaftyGram #33, second hit on this page:
http://ww
The pdf doesn't load right for me, but the view as html works okay for our purposes.
Mike Halloran
NOT speaking for
DeAngelo Marine Exhaust Inc.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
RE: Oxygen Service Dangers
http://www
RE: Oxygen Service Dangers
Hope this helps
Scooter
RE: Oxygen Service Dangers
RE: Oxygen Service Dangers
RE: Oxygen Service Dangers
You should definitely get good literature on oxygen safety and speak to an expert like the NASA man suggested further above. There are some surprising design and safety issues associated with oxygen, which normal designers will not readily understand the first time around.