Neal, we've used similar solutions for many years and most people like them. Generally, there are a few barriers that come up. Sometimes they can be dealt with, sometimes not:
1) purity or flow-some applications need one or the other that they don't believe the units can provide. Often, they are wrong.
2) mixing -depending on the application and risk profile, it might just be a better idea to buy premixed.
3) return on investment - sometimes it's hard to sell this concept if the ROI is out several years. The higher flow rate units can be more pricy.

My personal opinion - they are so worth it. Eliminating the labor and physical hazards from lugging the cylinders around and getting within building code limits for flammable gases tips that ROI scale.

Kim



Kimberly Begley Jeskie, MPH-OSHM
Physical Sciences Directorate Operations Manager
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Office: (865)574-4945
Cell: (865)919-4134

-----Original Message-----
From: Neal Langerman [neal**At_Symbol_Here**CHEMICAL-SAFETY.COM]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 06:07 AM Eastern Standard Time
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Handling O2 and H2

Labs tend to have cylinders of H₂ and O₂ which pose risks that can be easily mitigated by reducing the quantity of gas. For the researcher, all that is needed is a reliable gas source of sufficient volume and pressure to do the job. For the risk managers, the issue adds reducing the risk along with meeting the research needs. One proven way to do this is to generate O₂ and/or H₂ locally via the electrolysis of water.

I am looking at a resource that will deliver either or both gases at a pressure of about 1500 psi (100 bar) and a volume of 1 liter per minute (that is a lot!).

It is locally generated and a simple power interruption removes the hazards associated with each gas.

So, my questions to the list are simple -

Is this of interest to you?

Is $25k USD reasonable to replace all of the H₂ (or O₂) cylinders in the chemistry department?

The big downside of this is having a single source within a department. Major research departments will likely want several. A look at the demurrage costs of cylinders will easily make the $25k ( and low annual maintenance) seem reasonable.

I look forward to your comments and questions…

Incidentally, I do not have any financial involvement with the above; it was presented to me as a solution to a problem I have worked on for years =96 too damn many cylinders in labs….

Neal

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