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Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions.
- Why Use a concentrator/generator?
- How does a concentrator/generator work?
- I have my concentrator/generator, what do I do first?
- How do I connect it to my torch?
- How do I start up and shut down?
- How do I take care of my concentrator/generator?
• Low operating cost
• Produces oxygen from compressed air
• Microprocessor controlled
• Easy to install and maintain
Some examples of uses are: cutting, brazing, soldering, glasswork, manufacturing, glass blowing, metalsmithing (gold & silver), fish farming, hydroponics, oxygen facials (spas), oxygen bars, etc. There are many customers out there who are happy that they made the switch from tanks to a concentrator/generator. Why? Because they no longer have to lug those heavy (and dangerous) oxygen tanks in and out of cars/trucks and up and down stairs!! Not only are O2 tanks very cumbersome and dangerous, but O2 is very expensive! The cost of a concentrator/generator will be recovered very quickly. Our concentrators/generators put out 92-95% pure oxygen. These concentrators are sold for hobby/industrial use only and are NOT FOR MEDICAL USE.
Air contains 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, 0.9% argon, and 0.1% other gases. A concentrator/generator separates oxygen from compressed air through sieve beds, which attracts nitrogen from air at high pressure and releases it at low pressure. A typical concentrator/generator uses two cylinders filled with molecular sieve as adsorbers. As compressed feed air flows through one of the cylinders, the molecular sieve bed adsorbs nitrogen. The remaining oxygen passes through the bed and exits as the product gas. Before the adsorber becomes saturated with nitrogen, the feed air is diverted to the second bed. At that point, the sieve in the first bed regenerates by desorbing the nitrogen through depressurization and purging it with oxygen from the second bed. This process is then repeated in the second bed to complete a cycle that allows the oxygen concentrator to deliver a constant flow of product oxygen at 92-94% purity.
After receiving your concentrator/generator, you have 5 days in which to file a damage claim. If there is visible damage to the box, note it to the delivery person. It is your responsibility to call UPS or FEDEX to file a claim. If your unit is damaged or doesn't work, please e-mail immediately to kimberly@pyronamix.com with a phone number where you can be reached. With the new concentrator/generators, this rarely is a problem, but please do check. In the event there is damage, we will issue you a RMA (return merchandise authorization) number. You will call UPS/FEDEX to come and pick up the unit to be returned to us. We will ship you another unit. You will pay the shipping back to us, but the carrier will reimburse you when the claim is settled. Please DO NOT return a unit without a RMA number.
Test the unit. It is preferred that you do this test with nothing connected to the concentrator/generator...no hoses or torches.
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Take concentrator/generator out of box. (look for any connectors or other included parts inside of box).
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Plug the concentrator/generator into a wall outlet (regular, household current).
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Turn on the machine and adjust the flow with the dial. There is a flow meter on the machine (the little window with the floating ball). For a 5 LPM machine, the meter will read from 0 to 5. Never set the flow above the 5 LPM mark.
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Let the concentrator/generator run for 10 minutes to build up purity.
For the Regalia:
Because the Regalia has a digital control panel and internal flow meter, you will need to test it slightly differently.
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Take concentrator/generator out of box. (look for any connectors or other included parts inside of box).
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Plug the concentrator/generator into a wall outlet (regular, household current).
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Push the digital control button to the on position on the front of the concentrator and chose a setting ( ½ liter increments) from ½ to 10.
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Let the concentrator/generator run for 10 minutes to build up purity.
The digital setting should stay where you have it set.
You should have a T-grade hose set for your torch. The hose set is made up of two hoses (a RED one and a GREEN one) "stuck" together. You can peel them apart as much as you need to. The GREEN hose is for your oxygen and the RED hose is for your propane. Both hoses will have a brass "B" fitting on each end.
Your torch will either have:
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plain barbs (the inlets for the oxygen and propane);
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stud lines that have plain hose barbs on the end; or,
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stud lines that have a brass "B" fitting with an adapter that allows you to screw onto the fitting at the end of your hoses.
If your torch has plain barbs or stud lines with plain hose barbs, then you will need to cut the brass fittings off one end of your hose set. Make sure that you have one end with a brass fitting and one bare end.
If you have a torch with stud lines that have "B" brass fittings with the adaptor on them, you will be able to screw the hoses directly onto the stud lines. So, do not cut your lines!
These are the barbed ends of two "stud lines." The barbs on the torch look pretty much the same and you connect them to your hose set the same way. All torches have barbs, it's just that some also have these extensions connected to them.
If there is a plastic nipple fitting on the front of your concentrator, unscrew it and take it off. There should be a metal fitting underneath.
Screw the GREEN hose end with the brass fitting to the metal fitting on front of the concentrator/generator.
 
The bare end pushes onto the torch barb (or stud line barb) for the oxygen inlet and should be secured with the proper hose clamp.
If you do not have stud lines, you would simply connect the bare end directly to the barb coming out of the torch labeled "oxygen." Stud lines simply offer a little more flexibility than connecting lines directly to the torch. These stud lines have filters in them.
To supply your torch with propane, screw the brass fitting of the RED hose to the propane regulator (and flashback arrestor or quick disconnect if using) on the propane tank and push the bare (cut) end of the hose to the fuel inlet barb on the torch (or stud line) just as you did for the oxygen. Secure with a proper hose clamp (but not so tight as to cut the hose). Mix a small amount of dish soap and water in a jar and paint the connections with this to check for leaks. If you see bubbles, there is a LEAK.
Once everything is connected and you have determined that there are no leaks, you are ready to start.
Open the oxygen valve on your torch all the way. Turn on your concentrator/generator and set your desired flow rate and let it run for about ten minutes to warm up. Never set you concentrator higher than the flow rate for which it is rated. On a 5 LPM machine, that would mean to never set it higher than 5 LPM.
While the fuel valve on your torch is off, open the valve on the propane tank and adjust your regulator to about 5 psi higher than what you want your fuel pressure to be. If you are using Natural Gas, then simply open the valve to your Natural Gas supply.
To light your torch:
- Turn off the oxygen at the torch just long enough to light the fuel.
- Slowly open the fuel valve on your torch and light the fuel.
- Slowly open the oxygen valve on your torch.
- Adjust the flame.
While the torch is running, go back to your propane regulator and fine-tune it to the desired pressure. Many of the inexpensive regulators used by lampworkers tend to run better at higher pressures. When set too low, they can cause the pressure to surge and drop, causing fluctuations in the flame. To remedy this, simply set the regulator to a higher pressure (like 10-15 psi). This will not cause the torch to consume more fuel or to be too hot. The needle valves on your torch control fuel and oxygen that go into the torch body. The higher the pressure setting on the regulator, the more responsive your valve control will be. You can set the flame the way you want it with your valves.
There are a few different ways to shut down. Here are the two most popular:
- Turn your flame down.
- Shut off your oxygen valve at the torch.
- Turn off the concentrator/generator.
- Shut off your fuel valve at the torch.
- Shut off tank (or Natural Gas at the supply valve) and back out the "T" on the regulator.
- Bleed your lines.
- Shut off your fuel valve at the torch.
- Shut off your oxygen valve at the torch.
- Turn off the concentrator/generator.
- Shut off the propane at the tank (or Natural Gas at the supply valve) and back out the "T" on the regulator.
- Bleed your lines.
The most important thing is to shut off your propane tank/gas source whenever your torch is unattended. Why? Because, if you have a leak anywhere between the tank and the torch (or if the torch itself has a leak), you can fill the room with an unsafe amount of explosive gas.
Please use proper ventilation when operating your torch.
Remember, these units were built to run 24/7. That does not mean, "They said to let it run for 24 hours a day." It means they are very durable. When you are done working for the day, shut the unit down and bleed the hoses. However, it is NOT good to let your concentrator/generator sit unused for days on end. Every now and then (at least once a week) when you walk by, turn it on a let it run for an hour or so. Care for your concentrator and it will give you many good hours of service.
There is a small, thin gray filter on the back of the concentrator. Remove this filter and wash it in warm, sudsy water. Rinse well. Be sure the filter is BONE DRY before putting it back in the concentrator. This should be done at least once a week, more often if working in particularly dusty conditions. If you don't do this, your machine is going to overheat!
Electrical Requirements:
120 VAC, 60 Hz, 4.0 Amps
Positioning:
Locate the back of the unit a minimum of 12 inches from the wall and clear of any obstruction. Locate the concentrator/generator in a well-ventilated area that is protected from the elements and remains between 40°F (4°C) and 112°F(44°C)
Copyright © 2001 Pyronamix. All rights reserved.
Revised: 09/05/06.
Privacy Policy: Pyronamix does not and will not share any customer information for any reason. We collect this information for shipping/ordering purposes only.
FOR HOBBY/INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY
It is illegal to use units sold by Pyronamix for anything other than hobby/industrial use...i.e., lampwork, metalwork, glassblowing, etc. None of the machinery on this site is meant for medical use.
Send mail to kimberly@pyronamix.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Pyronamix
Last modified: 09/03/06 |
