Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
I don't suppose I should ask about the fire risk of O2 bottles in a hot air balloon. It seems like nitrox ought to work for your application, assuming you have done the PO2 calculations properly for altitude. Since you aren't nitrox ceritified, however, why not set up your own O2 system? You can buy oxygen in 300 cu ft. "K" bottles (cylinder rental is a few dollars a month, and O2 is perhaps $15 for 300 cu ft.). All you need is a clean O2 high pressure hose, and you can then transfill O2 into scuba cylinders. These must be O2 cleaned, but you can either have this done or even do it yourself (instructions can be found in an old Aquacorp techdiver - I'll check the issue). Steel 72s are nice because they are nearly full at the 2000 lb K bottle pressure, so you don't need an O2 booster pump. Welding oxygen is commonly used in the US for scuba, and you won't get any questions asked when you buy it. Cleaning regs for O2 is also fairly straightforward. If you don't have access to these in the UK, you can get information and supplies for setting up O2 systems from Randy Bohrer at the following address: Underwater Applications Corporation 427-3 Amherst St., Suite 345 Nashua, NH 03063 USA Phone: 508-433-6586 Randy wrote the chapter on oxygen cleaning for Mount's Mixed Gas book. He used to work in aerospace engineering so he might even know something about high altitude O2 applications. Good Luck. John jheimann@sc*.gt*.co* P.S. Randy, can I get a break on your trimix course for this free plug?
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]