Calculating Oxygen Usage from Ideal Gas Characteristics

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the duration of an oxygen cylinder at a constant flow rate, it's essential to convert gauge pressure to absolute pressure by adding atmospheric pressure. The absolute pressure is determined to be 13,901 kPa. Using Boyle's Law, the relationship between initial and final pressures and volumes can be established, allowing for the calculation of how long the cylinder will last based on the flow rate. The equation p_iV_i = p_fV_f can be applied without needing to know the constant k, as long as the pressure and volume conditions are understood. Properly applying these principles will yield the desired duration of oxygen supply.
N_L_
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A standard cylinder of oxygen used in a hospital has the following characteristics at room temperature (295 K): gauge pressure = 13,800 kPa (2000 psi), volume = 16 L (0.016 m^3). How long will the cylinder last if the flow rate, measured at atmospheric pressure, is constant at 2.4 liters/min?

I tried to find the volume (in liters) at atmospheric pressure. It didn't come out right.

Since nRT is constant do I need to find the number of moles?

Am I taking the wrong approach?
 
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Assuming temperature is constant you could use Boyle's law.

~H
 
Hootenanny said:
Assuming temperature is constant you could use Boyle's law.

~H

Does that work for gauge pressure?

Thank you.
 
N_L_ said:
Does that work for gauge pressure?

Thank you.

You must first convert it to absolute pressure, remember;

P_{gauge} = P_{abs} - P_{atm}

~H
 
N_L_ said:
Does that work for gauge pressure?

Thank you.
Just add atmospheric pressure to the gauge pressure to get absolute pressure.
 
P absolute = P gauge + P atmospheric

= 13,800 kPa + 101 kPa

= 13,901 kPa

PV = k

If I don't need to know k, how to I use the equation?
 
N_L_ said:
P absolute = P gauge + P atmospheric

= 13,800 kPa + 101 kPa

= 13,901 kPa

PV = k

If I don't need to know k, how to I use the equation?

If you know the pV is constant you can make an equality with respect to the intial and final pressures and volumes, thus;

p_{i}V_{i} = p_{f}V_{f}

~H
 
Many thanks for all of the help.
 

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