Chemical oxygen generator: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:20, 26 March 2019

Revision as of 22:19, 27 October 2019

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A '''chemical oxygen generator''' is a device that releases [[oxygen]] via a [[chemical reaction]]. The oxygen source is usually an inorganic [[superoxide]],<ref> Hayyan M., Hashim M.A., AlNashef I.M., Superoxide Ion: Generation and Chemical Implications, Chem. Rev., 2016, 116 (5), pp 3029–3085. [[DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00407]]</ref> [[chlorate]], or [[perchlorate]]; [[ozonide]]s are a promising group of oxygen sources. The generators are usually ignited by a [[firing pin]], and the chemical reaction is usually [[exothermic]], making the generator a potential [[fire hazard]]. [[Potassium superoxide]] was used as an oxygen source on early manned missions of the [[Soviet space program]], for [[firefighting|firefighters]], and for [[mine rescue]].

== In commercial airliners ==

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An explosion caused by one of these candles killed two Royal Navy sailors on {{HMS|Tireless|S88}}, a nuclear-powered submarine, under the Arctic on 21&nbsp;March 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=C. W.|title=Degraded Modes and the ‘Culture of Coping’ in Military Operations: An Analysis of a Fatal Incident on-board HMS Tireless on 20/21 March 2007|url=http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~johnson/papers/JWSSC2009/Degraded_Modes.pdf}}</ref> The candle had become contaminated with hydraulic oil, which caused the mixture to explode rather than burn.<ref>{{cite web |title = 'Oxygen candle' caused explosion| url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/22/sub_blast_oxy_candle/ | publisher = The Register | last = Page | first = Lewis | date = 22 March 2007 | accessdate = 2013-09-04 }}</ref>

In the [[Vika oxygen generator]] used on some spacecraft, [[lithium perchlorate]] is the source of [[oxygen]]. At 400 &nbsp;°C, it releases 60% of its weight as [[oxygen]]:<ref>{{cite journal|title=Lithium Perchlorate Oxygen Candle. Pyrochemical Source of Pure Oxygen|authors=M. M. Markowitz, D. A. Boryta, and Harvey Stewart, Jr.|journal=Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Dev.|year=1964|volume=3|pages=321–330

|doi=10.1021/i360012a016}}</ref>

:LiClO₄ → LiCl + 2 O₂

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==References==

{{reflistReflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chemical Oxygen Generator}}