HomeFill® Ambulatory Oxygen Package
Invacare® HomeFill Oxygen Compressor
Invacare® Platinum 10 Oxygen Concentrator
Oxygen Compressor FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Oxygen Compressors
How Oxygen Compressors Work
Oxygen compressors are used in conjunction with a compatible oxygen generator to fill and re-fill specific oxygen cylinders. Oxygen generators take the ambient air, filter out the nitrogen and produce oxygen that is greater than 95% pure. When this unit is used with an oxygen compressor, the oxygen that is developed by the oxygen generator is “compressed” into the portable oxygen bottle by the oxygen compressor thus allowing patients to have a steady stream of full oxygen bottles.
The first thing that you must know before you use the oxygen compressor is if the system (compressor) is compatible with the oxygen generator you are choosing or currently have. This can be easily determined by looking at the back of the oxygen generator to see if there is a small port that the oxygen compressor connects to with the “interconnect hose”. The port will be clearly marked and the user should also review the operating instructions of the oxygen generator to make sure that the compressor and generator are compatible.
Normally oxygen compressors are somewhat limited in the size of the oxygen cylinders they are capable of filling. Currently, oxygen compressors work best on M2, M4, and M6 size oxygen cylinders. This size limitation is a limitation of the compressors ability to fill larger tanks that are under greater pressure. The oxygen concentrator is not for filling of large oxygen cylinders such as M80 (80 liters) tanks. So once again make sure you have completely read and understand the limitations of your oxygen compressor presented to you in your operators manual.
In setting up a location for you to fill your oxygen bottles with the oxygen compressor, make sure that you are away from any source of heat or open flame. Oxygen is a very flammable gas and feeds fires once they are ablaze. You should also make sure that the ambient temperature is within the stated range of the oxygen compressors operating range. This is typically 50 to 95 degrees F. Once the oxygen bottle is filled, another one can be filled immediately.
Reasonable care must be demonstrated to make sure that the system function correctly and does not present a hazard to the operator or the recipient of the oxygen. You should always keep your system clean and make sure that you do not oil any of the components of either the generator or compressor. Oils can get hot and cause a fire. Oil is also an unwanted contaminant of the oxygen and should never be introduced into the oxygen cylinder.