What Are Compressed Gases?

Whether it's a food manufacturer using nitrogen to modify the atmosphere of packaging and increase shelf life, or a doctor administering nitrous oxide for anaesthetic properties, compressed gases are used in a wide variety of applications. So much so that the British Compressed Gases Association asserts that pressurised chemical elements improve quality of life.

As the name suggests, compressed gases are essentially chemical elements that are stored under pressure, usually in a cylinder, canister or tube trailer. They don't become liquid when compressed at room temperatures, with common examples including oxygen, nitrogen, argon and helium.

Want to know more? Here's a glimpse at compressed gases in action:

Industrial applications

As an inert gas, nitrogen is also the chemical element of choice for industrial manufacturers carrying out steel treatments like annealing, carburizing and neutral hardening. The compressed chemical element also lends itself to applications where precision is a must, including electronics assembly and semiconductor production. In this context nitrogen gas works to maintain an ideal atmosphere, ensure sharp finishes and prevent oxidation.

In a food context

Colourless, odourless and consumer safe, nitrogen is coveted by food manufacturers to modify the atmosphere of packaging, protect nutrients, prevent aerobic microbial growth and ultimately, extend shelf life.

Liquid or solid matrixes

In some contexts it's necessary to stabilise compressed gases, including acetylene, in the cylinder by dissolving the chemical element in a liquid or solid matrix. Gases that are generally used in liquid form, such as LNG, can also be converted into compressed form and used to power vehicles. CNG is gaining popularity across the globe, used to power everything from commuter buses in Spain to tuk-tuks in Asia. For more insight into the latest energy industry news don't miss PEFTEC 2019 - The 3rd International Conference & Exhibition on Downstream, Petroleum, Refining and Environmental Technologies.

The dangers of compressed gases

While compressed gases are used in a host of applications, there are considerable dangers associated with using chemical elements stored under pressure. Explosion of cylinders is one of the most common hazards, a malfunction that's usually caused by mechanical damage or over-pressurisation. The high flammability of compressed gases like liquefied petroleum gas and dissolved acetylene also put them at risk of explosion.

Compressed chemical elements offer benefits across a host of industries, though in the oil and gas landscape unwanted gases can often cause major problems for pipeline operators. Educating readers in how to develop an effective approach for the analysis of “live” fluids, 'Detection of Corrosive Gases in live pipeline products' spotlights key contributors to corrosion, including oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gases.