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Facts About Cryogenic Gases That Need To Be Understood

By Grace Rivas


Cryogenic gases refer to gases that are maintained in either gaseous or liquid form at very low temperatures. The gasses have a boiling point of low than -150 degrees Centigrade. At normal pressure and temperature, these substances exist in gaseous form. They normally have two main characteristics. The first one is, when liquefied, small amounts of liquid can expand into very large amounts of gas. The second characteristic is that they are extremely cold.

Due to their extremely low temperature, they condense air to produce fog that the naked eye can see. When kept in tanks that are insulated insufficiently, they condense nearby air to create liquid and air mixture. They are categorized under compressed gasses by WHMIS criteria.

Every cryogenic substance has its own properties, although most of them can be placed in one of the following classes. The classes are, oxygen, inert and flammable gasses. Any inert gas does not have much chemical reaction with other substances. They include neon, Oregon, krypton, and nitrogen. Flammable gas can burn in atmospheric air. Common examples are liquefied natural gas, methane, and hydrogen among others. Most substances considered non-combustible burn when mixed with liquid oxygen. This makes it important to handle oxygen with precautions that are different from those of other cryogenics.

These substances are transported, used, and stored in containers that are greatly insulated. The containers are made in a manner that they can endure rapid changes in temperatures and they can also withstand great differences in temperatures. Examples of containers used include liquid dewar flasks, gas cylinders, and lab liquid dewar flasks. Gas cylinders contain valves for dispensing and filling up the gas and pressure-regulation valves with frangible disks as backup protection.

There are several health hazards associated with these substances and precaution must be taken when handling them. The health hazards are classified into three groups, that is toxicity, asphyxiation, and extreme cold. The cold gas and its associated vapor can cause effects on the skin similar to thermal burns. Brief exposure that cannot affect skin can affect delicate tissues like eyes. Other effects include frostbite, pain, sticking on cold surface, and lung damage.

Many of cryogenic gases are heavier than air. They therefore displace air and settle down on floors creating a vacuum of oxygen. Oxygen deficiency might cause asphyxiation and death. Hence it is not recommendable to handle these materials inside enclosed poorly ventilated spaces. Materials like carbon (II) Oxide are very toxic and might cause death immediately if they seep out into the surroundings.

These substances have several uses in various applications. First, the liquid forms are used as fuels in powering rockets and other high-speed planes. Other applications include food and blood conservation, electrical power transmission, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and forward looking infrared. Certain rare blood types need to be stored under extremely low temperatures to remain viable. They are also used in making detectors.

Of all Cryogenic gases, the most used one is liquefied nitrogen. Its possession and purchase if legal and it can be acquired from anywhere globally. Apparently, Dewar flasks are the best storage containers utilized.




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