How Oxygen concentrator is different from Oxygen Cylinder?

The nation has witnessed an oxygen shortage amid the ongoing COVID19 Pandemic. Many vital steps have been taken to curb like initiating oxygen express but the country still reels under the shortage of oxygen. Besides due to the jam-packed hospitals' many patients are forced to get treatment at home. However, there is a lot of confusion over the Oxygen concentrator and Oxygen cylinder. 

What is Oxygen Concentrator and how does it work

Oxygen is formed by separating it from other gases. The same process applies to the concentrator. it separates the other surrounding gases from oxygen and supplies pure oxygen to the patient. It supplies oxygen through nasal tubes and masks. It is an electricity-operated device that works 24 hours to provide oxygen. A refilling like an oxygen cylinder is not required in an oxygen concentrator. 

Advantages of concentrator-

It is a good alternative to oxygen if you are undergoing treatment at home isolation.

- The concentrator supplies 5 to 10 liters of oxygen in one minute.

- It is portable, no need to refill repeatedly.

- It can be easily run from the inverter when the power is cut off.

- There is no separate maintenance cost.

Disadvantages of oxygen concentrator-

- The capacity of the Concentrator is low. So the oxygen for a critical patient will exhaust early as the patient requires 40 to 50 liters of oxygen.

- Concentrator is expensive as compared to an oxygen cylinder. The price of a concentrator starts from around 40 thousand rupees.

- The oxygen in the cylinder is pure as compared to the concentrator. Around 98% of oxygen delivered to the patient is pure.

The Difference between Oxygen concentrator and Cylinder

It is supplied to the hospital with the help of cryogenic tankers. Oxygen is supplied with pipeline support to ICU and ventilator patients. Where pipelines are not provided, oxygen is supplied through cylinders.