What are the differences among the terms oxygen service, oxygen mixture, nitrox , enriched-air nitrox (EAN) and oxygen-enriched air?
The term oxygen service generally means using pure oxygen (oxygen concentrations of 95% to 100%), but the term is sometimes used more broadly to refer to any gas mixture containing more oxygen than air. The “standard air” we breathe is composed of 20.95% oxygen, 78.05% nitrogen and 1% of trace amounts of other gases, including argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, krypton and xenon (the amounts vary depending upon your geographical location, altitude, etc.). For practical purposes, most technical literature rounds off these percentages and defines “standard air” as 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. Oxygen mixture generally refers to gas blends containing between 50% and 95% oxygen. Oxygen – enriched air, nitrox , and enriched-air nitrox (EAN) are generally used synonymously in the diving industry since all refer to pressurized diving gas mixtures containing various oxygen concentrations greater than standard air. For example, two common mixtures used by divers are EAN 32 (32% oxygen) and EAN
Related Questions
- What are the differences among the terms oxygen service, oxygen mixture, nitrox , enriched-air nitrox (EAN) and oxygen-enriched air?
- Can I switch modes between dives i.e. make two dives using air, third dive using EAN (Nitrox) , can the computer deal with this?
- Do you have quality air systems for blending Nitrox, Trimix and Oxygen?
