New England Medical CenterNew England Medical Center Respiratory Care ProgramsRespiratory Care Programs

Changing Compressed Gas CylindersChanging Compressed Gas Cylinders

Training ModuleTraining Module

Prepared by William R. Howard, MBA, RRTPrepared by William R. Howard, MBA, RRT

Director, Respiratory CareDirector, Respiratory Care

            

This module is intended to:

Provide background information in the changing of compressed gas cylinders

Identify the steps to be demonstrated in the changing of compressed gas cylinders

Cylinder Changing:Training Module

            

Cylinder Changing:

A gas cylinder should be changed when the contents, as identified by it’s pressure, decreases to about 500 psig.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Empty Cylinders

Cylinders are never truly "empty."

Empty cylinders shall be handled in the same manner as full and partially full cylinders. 

            

Cylinder Changing:

Empty Cylinders

Full and empty cylinders are not to be connected or in the same manifold together, (or stored together).

            

Cylinder Changing:

Empty Cylinders

Empty cylinders are to be labeled:

"Empty"

            

Cylinder Changing:

Empty Cylinders

Valves are closed on empty cylinders, leaving a positive pressure inside of them.

Valve protective caps, (received with full cylinders), are replaced on empty cylinders.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Identify from your supply room, a full cylinder of gas for your specific needs.

YOKE STEM

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Remove protective cap and/or valve covering material from yoke stem.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

With E-Cylinders and smaller, be sure that a NEW sealing grommet is installed between the yoke stem and the receiving end of the regulator. The OLD grommet must be removed and discarded.

Grommet installed on regulator:

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

There is no sealing grommet with larger cylinder or threaded ‘nut’-style regulators.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

The cylinder valve is opened momentarily and then closed to blow dirt from the outlet.

                              

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

If the gas you are selecting is toxic/poisonous, crack in the safety of an exhaust hood or in a place of adequate ventilation.

                              

            

Cylinder Changing -

Specific Procedures:

The outlet of an oxygen cylinder valve is never wiped or touched.

This avoids leaving organic residues that might be ignited by exposure to high oxygen pressure, for example.

            

Cylinder Changing -

Specific Procedures:

Oil or grease must be avoided on the high-pressure side of oxygen cylinders or other cylinders containing oxidizing material. (Otherwise a fire or explosion could

result.)

            

Cylinder Changing -

Specific Procedures:

Cylinders are only to be used with a regulator.

A regulator lowers the cylinder pressure to safe level.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

A regulator and gauge shall be installed at the point of use to show:

The outlet pressure when the source cylinder is used.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

A regulator and gauge shall be installed at the point of use to show:

The remaining contents of the cylinder

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures :

Cylinder valves are closed when not in use.

They are never tampered with, forced, lubricated, or modified.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Cylinders are used only with fittings, valves, regulators, and tubing designated by the manufacturer for the gas being used

            

Cylinder Changing -

Specific Procedures:

Connections are not forced or made from homemade adapters.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Wear appropriate eye protection

“Crack” cylinder to remove dust.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Attach the closed regulator to the cylinder.

Never open the cylinder valve unless the regulator is completely closed and tight.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

T-or Yoke-style regulators are to be hand tightened only

Large-tank or nut-threaded regulators, (those without sealing grommets), are to be wrench tightened.

             

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

If using a ‘yoke’ style regulator, common to E-size cylinders, do not use the wrench to tighten the regulator onto the cylinder.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Face the pressure gauge away from you when opening cylinder valve.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Identify that the pressure gauge reads full :

Full for most non-liquid cylinders is 2,000-2,200 psig.

Turn the cylinder valve off.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

If the contents gauge does not decline, then the connection is ‘tight’.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Open the administration flowmeter to release pressure.

Close the flowmeter.

            

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

The full cylinder is now ready for use.

Follow your Department procedure for appropriate leak-free connection to your equipment.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

The full cylinder is now ready for use.

To deliver therapeutic gas to a patient, the clinician will need to connect to a flow-meter that is specific to the cylinder gas.

            

Cylinder Changing:

Specific Procedures:

Only licensed personnel under physician authority may dispense or administer therapeutic gases to a patient.

            

Click here for Cylinder Changing POST-Evaluation