Familiarise with High Pressure Terminology

Compressor Dictionary - I

Installation of a Compressor System

The position of the compressor fundamentally influences unit efficiency and air purity. Whenever airflow within the compressor room is unfavourable, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other noxious gases may be drawn into the air intake.

The harmful effects of these gases are independent of the proportion contained within breathing air; rather, these effects depend on the partial pressure of the gases. Since partial pressure rises proportionally to ambient pressure, the ensuing health risks increase with depth.

At the surface, one percent (by volume) of carbon monoxide is relatively harmless, even though slight respiratory anomalies may occur. This 1% dose of carbon dioxide is equivalent to 10 mbar at the surface. At a depth of 10 m, the proportion of carbon dioxide is still 1%; however, the partial pressure has doubled to 20 mbar. At 40 m depth, the partial pressure reaches 50 mbar, which is equivalent to a 5% carbon dioxide level at the surface. Comparatively high partial pressures of carbon dioxide have catastrophic effects.

Please use an air quality monitoring kit whenever you have doubts about the quality of breathing air in your diving cylinder.

Smoking a cigarette immediately before the dive undoes the benefits of diving with pure breathing air since the level of carbon monoxide and dioxide in your blood skyrocket. This may cause severe health problems at greater depths.

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