Oxygen Masks On Airplanes Make Their Own Ogygen

''The Truth About Oxygen Masks On Airplanes''

Have you ever ever puzzled where they save the oxygen for the emergency mask aboard airplanes? With airlines finding greater methods to save expenses and fill the plane to capability, it would be impractical to use heavy, bulky oxygen tanks. especially while there is another way: Create your personal oxygen.Yes oxygen masks make their own oxygen.

Aircraft emergency oxygen systems are emergency equipment fitted to pressurized commercial aircraft, intended for use when the cabin pressurization system has failed and the cabin altitude has climbed above a safe level. It consists of a number of individual yellow oxygen masks stored in compartments near passenger seats and near areas like lavatories and galleys, and an oxygen source, like a centralized gaseous cylinder or decentralized chemical oxygen generator.

There are lots of non-gasoline chemicals which are rich source of oxygen in oxygen—look at the O3 in sodium chlorate's chemical formula, NaClO3, for example. All it desires is a touch little bit of heat, and sodium chlorate (or barium peroxide, or potassium perchlorate) quick gives off its oxygen atoms so you have air to respire. it is why flight attendants teach you to drag on the masks. That tug creates a small explosion in order to generate the warmth it takes to make the chemical in question release its oxygen. The chemical reaction most effective lasts for a most of about 20 mins, but it really is generally enough time for the plane to descend to a secure respiratory altitude. still, it is extremely vital that you placed your masks on as soon as viable, because it only takes about 30 seconds in dangerously low cabin pressure for a person to bypass out.

There are two systems that are typically found on aircraft:

A chemical oxygen generator system connected to all masks in the compartment. Pulling down on one oxygen mask removes the firing pin of the generator igniting a mixture of sodium chlorate and iron powder, opening the oxygen supply for all the masks in the compartment. Oxygen production cannot be shut off once a mask is pulled, and oxygen production typically lasts at least 15 minutes. During the production of oxygen, the generator becomes extremely hot and should not be touched. A burning smell may be noted and cause alarm among passengers, but this smell is a normal part of the chemical reaction. This system can be found on the MD-80 aircraft, whose system is also unique in the fact that the face masks are clipped to the inside of the compartment door and do not drop out and hang, by the oxygen tube, in front of the passengers. "For any aircraft which carries more than a very few passengers, the weight, complexity and maintenance issues associated with a compressed gas system would be prohibitive. As a consequence, the industry relies on chemical oxygen generators."

A gaseous manifold system, which connects all oxygen masks to a central oxygen supply, usually in the cargo hold area. Pulling down on one oxygen mask starts the oxygen supply for that mask only. The entire system can usually be reset in the cockpit or in some other location in the aircraft.