5 ms·
When have they ever run out of oxygen before?
by wbl 6y ago
When have they ever run out of oxygen before?
- labster 6y agoHospitals are running out of oxygen in a way: so much is going through the pipes that the upper floors have low pressure, and the oxygen pipes occasionally freeze from adiabatic expansion. In LA.
- Cthulhu_ 6y agoYou'd think they would test systems like that at maximum consumption. Mind you, electricity and water systems are also not designed for every outlet to be maxed out. Whomst among us hasn't caused a breaker to trip from having too much stuff on at the same time.
- WrtCdEvrydy 6y agoWhy would you? There's almost no cases where you would need oxygen to every room...
- labster 6y agoI doubt they tested for the case where they needed oxygen for the patients in the conference rooms and gift shop, either. It’s not like they can order more rooms on AWS; physical infrastructure has a breaking point and LA hospitals hit it.
- EliRivers 6y agoWithout knowing at all what I'm talking about, wouldn't be surprised if they are beyond maximum rated consumption.
- pfdietz 6y agoIs it from adiabatic expansion, or is it just the LOX vaporizer/heater being overwhelmed?
- labster 6y agoHonestly wasn’t sure when I wrote it, I’m an atmospheric scientist, not an engineer, so it seems typically adiabatic to me... quite possibly the answer is “both”.
- MattGaiser 6y agoMy understanding is that some hospitals have a central oxygen system, no different from how we are all connected to the water system and water comes out of the tap. If too many taps were open, nobody would get enough water. Well, too many oxygen taps are open.
- sjg007 6y agoToo many taps open increases flow which causes freezing.