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MEDICAL FAQ'S
FAQ'S
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Welcome to our Medical Frequently Asked Questions. Understanding Your Needs and Looking for Customized Solutions!
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How does the Vacuum Pressure Swing Absorption (VPSA) technology process for oxygen gas production work?
The ON
2
VPSA system works by separating Nitrogen (and other trace gases) from the air with a Molecular sieve. Resulting in Oxygen purities of 93% or greater. ON
2
chose VPSA as the mechanism of choice because of the cost benefits to the customer over the life of the concentrator. These include much lower power usage, shorter start cycle, and continuous supply.
What are the main benefits of ON
2
concentrators compared to other sources?
ON
2
Oxygen Concentrators start and stop with demand resulting in cost savings on electricity. Oxygen purities in excess of 95% are consistently achieved. ON
2
Oxygen Concentrators have minimal breakdowns due to the quality of components used. ON
2
provides excellent service and 24/7 telephone support.
What is the oxygen outlet pressure using VPSA?
75 to 85 psi which allows for the accumulation of oxygen in the storage tank providing a buffer during short power outages, or short maintenances.
Can I fill cylinders with the ON
2
Concentrator System?
Yes, if you add an ON
2
Cylinder Filling Station. This system can be installed in the same area as the OC, or remote from this location as long as piping can reach that location.
Do you need a vacuum pump to empty a cylinder before re-filling?
Yes, cylinders much be vacuumed to 24 inhg before they are filled. This is per CSA regulations on medical gas systems. All ON
2
Filling Stations come with a vacuum pump as part of the Standard package.
What are the cost savings with a Cylinder Filling Station?
With an ON
2
Cylinder Filling Station you will save on shipping costs and cylinder rental, and utilize Oxygen production of your ON
2
Oxygen Concentrator during lower demand times in the facility; thereby severing your dependency on medical gas supply companies. You can also fill cylinders for surrounding facilities (Clinics, Vet Clinics, Home Care cylinders) as a revenue generating plan for your facility.
Can the Cylinder Filling Station be located remotely?
As long as you can supply the filling station with oxygen from your ON
2
Oxygen Concentrator location, it can be remote. ON
2
offers Remote Cylinder Filling Stations for facilities with space constraints. As long as there is a footprint outside the hospital of approximately 8’x20’ we can install a Remote Cylinder Filling System (RCFS) at your site.
Is it necessary to change the molecular sieve?
Yes, if it is exposed to water droplets or humid air. The typical life span of Molecular sieve is 100,000 running hours, if kept dry. ON
2
uses Gold Seal Standard air compressors and filters to maximize the life of the sieve medium, to keep customer long term costs to a minimum.
How long does the Molecular Sieve last?
Typically, 10-15 years with ON
2
air compressors and filters in place.
Is it easy to replace the Molecular Sieve?
No, this should be done by a trained ON
2
Technician as the dust is problematic, and if not installed properly your ON
2
OC will not operate at peak efficiency.
Is all Zeolite Molecular Sieve the same?
No, there are several different manufacturers and grades of Molecular sieve. ON
2
provides a Gold Seal Standard product from the USA.
Why do I need an air dryer?
While your ON
2
OC will produce dependable oxygen 24/7, there are limitations to its operating environment, and there can be times when additional equipment is required. ON
2
can provide an air dryer if needed, especially in more humid climates to prevent moisture from getting to the molecular sieve and destroying it. We want maximum longevity for our customers, so in some instances we will recommend this equipment as a needed addition to the system.
Can I use air compressors with an integrated air dryer?
Yes, as long as the dryer meets the OC’s cfm requirement. ON
2
can provide a quote for these units if needed, either during initial installation, or after the fact, if environmental conditions have changed.
What is the power supply requirement for our VPSA system?
Depends entirely on the size of the system. ON
2
systems have among the lowest power usage statistics in the market, and during the quoting process we will give you our best estimate on electricity usage and costs depending on your location.
Do you have a scheduled maintenance plan?
Yes, we have a Preventative Maintenance Program (PMP). ON
2
is willing and able to supply the new customer with a PMP that best fits their needs, from scheduled maintenance to a full extended warranty. Existing customers can sign up at any time for the scheduled maintenance program, which allows the hospital to better budget it’s maintenance costs.
What are the average annual maintenance costs for an Oxygen Concentrator System?
ON
2
’s OC Systems vary in size significantly. The average hospital can expect to see approximately $8000 a year in costs including parts, labour and travel costs, but larger facilities can be as high as $50,000.
Do you provide on-call phone support?
Yes, ON
2
provides exemplary 24/7 phone support. Our ON
2
technicians have over 40 years of combined knowledge and experience in maintaining and troubleshooting our equipment. They are able to get most customers back online during a typical Troubleshooting call. In some instances, travel to the site is necessary, but this is a rare event.
Do you offer installation / commissioning and start-up service?
Our ON
2
technicians can do everything from installation of electrical and gas connections, to commissioning and testing of the unit if it was installed by others. We are willing and able to provide full service installation if the customer so desires.
Can the ON
2
Concentrator produce uninterrupted gas 24 / 7 - 365 days / year?
One of the primary benefits of ON
2
’s Oxygen Concentrator is that it allows the facility to break free of their dependency on the gas supply companies and their tiered costing. ON
2
Concentrators provide on-site Oxygen on demand, 24 hours/day and 365 days/year. Our reliable and cost effective SOLUTION allows you to provide for the needs of the hospital at all times, without concern for delivery logistical issues that can arise when your gas supply is some distance from your facility.
Can ON
2
build custom designs based on oxygen demands and / or space restrictions?
ON
2
works with the customer to fully understand their needs both on average demand as well as peak average demand to properly size the system. If the facility is remote, we will also suggest a duplex system for even greater peace of mind.
Can the ON
2
System be housed in a remote or mobile container?
ON
2
provides a Remote Oxygen Concentrator System (ROCS) that allows any hospital with the ability to add an ON
2
OC system to supply worry free oxygen without giving up valuable space in a likely already crowded building.
How big is an Oxygen Concentrator System?
Oxygen Concentrators vary in size; typically, system will fit in a 10’ x 12’ room. We custom build configurations to fit the smallest of clinics up to multi-thousand bed major facilities worldwide. By duplexing and triplexing our largest units we can supply to any and all hospitals providing significant reliability and flexibility.
Can the concentrator be located in a seperate area from the compressor?
ON
2
can provide any configuration that works for the facility up to and including housing the compressor(s) in a ROCS unit while the OC is housed in the building itself.
Do you size systems differently for different altitudes and climates?
Yes, ON
2
provides an analysis as part of the initial consultation that addresses the fact that at higher altitudes, larger systems may be required.
What is the dew-point of oxygen produced by VPSA?
-40 to -65 dew point. This exceeds both the CSA and ISO Standards for medical gases, which ON
2
strives for in all specifications.
How are ON
2
systems more cost and energy efficient than competitors?
ON
2
’s system can start and stop with demand and be online and producing oxygen with a 3-minute start-up. Our dual stack system allows for a continuous feed of Oxygen to the facility, lowering the pressure swings typically seen in single stack systems. The mix tank allows for a solid 95% purity to always be flowing to the oxygen storage tank as well.
Are ON
2
systems fully automatic?
Yes, ON
2
systems start and stop automatically, and have an automatic optimize function. As well we use Gold Seal Standard oxygen analyzers to ensure the purity of gas to your facility is maintained at all times.
Do I require >99% pure oxygen for medical use?
ON
2
has done extensive research into the topic of Oxygen vs. Oxygen 93, and every report or paper published to date shows no discernible difference between gases as to the physiological effect on any patient. All patients respond to and heal identically regardless of the gas used.
What is the purity of oxygen produced by an ON
2
VPSA System?
90% to 95.4% Typically > 95.0%. ON
2
uses oxygen analyzers to verify the continual production of gas by our concentrators and the normal feed to the facility is 95% or higher, but the CSA and ISO Standard does allow dips to 90%. Our units are designed to shutdown and alarm at below 90% purity, as this would be an anomaly.
How does the ON
2
VPSA Concentrator System gaurantee oxygen purity?
2 top quality ON
2
Oxygen Analyzers. These units are the Gold Seal Standard for oxygen analyzers in the world, and are robust and reliable like no other. We have units that are still working after 29 years, and during testing and calibration are still accurate to or above the devices specification.
What is the lifespan of an Oxygen Concentrator System?
Typically, 20 plus years, although ON
2
has Concentrators in service that were installed over 38 years ago. Most of the wearing components (Compressor, Vacuum pump) have been replaced, but the unit continues to provide the facility in question with reliable and dependable oxygen to this day.
How much energy is consumed to run an ON
2
Concentrator System?
A properly sized ON
2
Concentrator System can use as little as 160kWh of electricity in any given day to provide for all of the oxygen needs for that facility.
Does the ON
2
VPSA System face the same problems of evaporation like liquid oxygen?
No, unlike the bulk storage facilities, the ON
2
Oxygen is produced on demand and does not evaporate. It is stored in a gaseous form, and is produced on demand. If the facility isn’t using oxygen, the unit shuts down until needed.
What are the main benefits of VPSA Systems compared to liquid oxygen / cylinders?
The ON
2
Oxygen Concentrator produces oxygen on demand with no evaporation to worry about. The ON
2
systems are inflation proof, pandemic proof (liquid O2 needs to be delivered) and dependant on nothing but a supply of electricity to produce continuous oxygen for your facility.
Is air-conditioning or heating required as part of the installation?
Yes, the ON
2
system needs to be in a +5 to +50 degree Celsius environment. In many cases this can be accomplished by proper ventilation, but in some cases climate control is necessary.
Do you provide leasing options?
Yes, ON
2
has a number of leasing options available to the prospective buyer, to make the upfront capital expenditure less of a budgetary issue
2
What are some of the applications for an Oxygen Concentrator System other than on-site medical gas?
ON
2
provide Oxygen Concentrators to the industrial and commercial marketplace with cost effective, dependable and reliable solutions for their medical grade oxygen needs. Fish Farms, Vet Clinics, Hydroponic farms, Waste Management, Composting are but a few of the industries that can benefit from an ON
2
Oxygen Concentrator.
Are Oxygen Concentrator Systes environmentally friendly and safe to use?
Yes, ON
2
’s systems use a minimal amount of electricity and provide an extremely efficient means to produce medical grade oxygen. On-site gas also alleviates the harmful emissions associated with transportation of bulk gas suppliers.
What operational and quality testing does ON
2
Solutions do before shipping a system to a customer job site?
At ON
2
we perform a 1 week in house “Free run” that simulates the actual demands a system will see in the field. All alarms and settings are also verified at this time. This allows us to work through any possible “bugs” before your system is shipped. As well the unit is tested in accordance and witnessed by the Manitoba Inspection and Technical Services department. The final check is a CSA electrical inspection to certify that the unit meets all of the Canadian electrical safety standards.
Does the application of an ON
2
Concentrator System determine what type of oxygen analyzer is used?
All ON
2
Oxygen Concentrators used in facilities with any kind of patient care use the Paramagnetic Oxygen Analyzers. Vet Clinics and industrial applications use an Oxygen Purity Indicator instead of an analyzer to determine the oxygen content produced.
Please do not hesitate to
CONTACT US
for additional information.
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