Oxygen Plants: An Essential Aspect of the Medical Industry
COVID-19 has shaken the world up with its unprecedented spread and lethal consequences. Medical infrastructure has faced the brunt of the pandemic, and one essential commodity that has been in high demand is medical oxygen. Depletion of oxygen supplies and demand-supply gaps have created panic across the world. In these tough times, oxygen plants have emerged as India’s saviours. India has been fast-tracking oxygen plant manufacturing to bridge the gap in oxygen production.
What are Oxygen Plants?
Oxygen plants compress and purify air to produce high purity medical oxygen. These plants come in various sizes and capacities, catering to multiple industries. However, oxygen plants catering to medical purposes require superior purity, with a minimum purity of 99.5%. Additionally, these plants should adhere to specific protocols, ensuring that the medical oxygen is free of impurities.
How do Oxygen Plants work?
Oxygen plants work on the principal of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology. At their core, oxygen plants use zeolite molecular sieves, which adsorb nitrogen and other impurities from the air, allowing high purity medical oxygen to flow through. The PSA technique enables the plants to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Types of Oxygen Plants
Oxygen plants come in both PSA and Cryogenic variants. Cryogenic plants employ fractional distillation of air, separating it into its various constituents, including oxygen, nitrogen, and other rare gases. The process involves supercooling the air using refrigerants and processing it accordingly. Cryogenic plants are suited to large-scale production, with high-gravity application.
PSA plants, on the other hand, have a modular approach and are efficient for applications that require frequent oxygen supply, such as hospitals and other medical facilities. Additionally, these plants can be customized for portable purposes and are ideal for remote areas or disaster situations.
Oxygen Plant Cost
The cost of oxygen plants can vary considerably based on various factors such as the capacity, location, and technology. However, it is estimated that a standard PSA oxygen plant for medical purposes, with a production capacity of 50-500 cubic meters, can cost anywhere between INR 65 lakhs to INR 3.5 crores. Cryogenic variants are more expensive, with an average costing ranging between INR 15 crores to INR 50 crores.
Oxygen Plant Manufacturer
The market for oxygen plant manufacturers has been exponentially rising owing to the pandemic. India has emerged as a global leader in the manufacturing of oxygen plants, and several manufacturers have mushroomed in recent times. The competition has resulted in lower prices and innovative technologies.
Conclusion
Oxygen plants are an irreplaceable aspect of the medical industry and have saved countless lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government and private players must continue to promote and invest in quality oxygen plant manufacturing to ensure that medical oxygen is readily available across India. By doing so, we can ensure that we are equipped to deal with emergencies such as pandemics better. Oxygen plant cost is a crucial aspect to consider while investing, but it is also essential to choose a manufacturer that adheres to the highest quality standards.