Carbon Dioxide Reduction for USP Breathing Air
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) sets standards for all medical gases including stored breathing air. A critical parameter required to meet this standard specifies that the carbon dioxide (CO2) level be under 500 ppm. Many medical gas supply companies report that reducing CO2 in their high pressure air supply can be problematic with air samples often testing in the 500 ppm to 700 ppm range. Until recently the solutions for this have been limited to pre-scrub systems that help to reduce the CO2 prior to the air intake of the high pressure compressor system. Although this can be an effective tool, having a CO2 filter downstream from the compressor will ensure that all of the gas entering the storage system will be consistently filtered. Lawrence Factor has now developed a filter that can be used in existing and new filter tower systems to reduce CO2. Customers using this filtration report levels below 100 ppm, thus ensuring they will always meet the requirement needed to satisfy the standard for USP air. These filter cartridges can be easily installed in Bauer, Mako and Lawrence Factor appliances that have multiple tower configurations. Additional towers can be added to an existing system to accommodate the CO2 filter without reducing the capacity of the system overall. Contact us now for more information on how to integrate this into your air supply. We also have new filter tower appliances utilizing this technology that will consistently provide air purified to USP standards. Available filter cartridge part numbers: X22997 (Bauer), X53997 (Lawrence Factor)
Carbon Monoxide and H20 Indicator
Carbon monoxide can be easily drawn into the compressor intake by gas or Diesel driven compressors or even by a passing motor vehicle in the area. Although nothing can surpass the accuracy and reliability of air analysis at a lab, a visual back up can give you a clear warning that something has gone wrong in your system before anyone jumps in the water. By plumbing in an inline sight-glass indicator ( GI-531920-AG ) you can give yourself some peace of mind that the air passing into your cylinders has not been compromised. The indicator holds two different elements that will each change color should carbon monoxide or moisture be present in the air stream. This system is not meant to tell you when to change your air filter, but is used as a visual back up to let you know if high levels of carbon monoxide are present or if the filter has passed it’s usable life. If you are changing your filters accordingly, the last air you pump with each filter should be dried to Grade E standards which would not cause the indicator to change. The photos show how the indicators will each change color giving the user a visual alert that something is wrong. The sight-glass should be plumbed into the system between the final filtration tower and the filling whips. If a multiple fill whip manifold is used just place the sight-glass at the inlet of the manifold before it splits into the individual whips. To keep both of the elements and fill whips dry and clean, it is recommended to keep the system slightly pressurized when not in use to keep ambient air out of the lines. The elements have a six month install life unless they have changed color due to usage, so they do not need to be changed with each air filter change.