Neon gas has a range of uses in industry, including in the popular business signs advertising stores as open. Explore some of the less well-known ways to use neon and learn how use of the gas may require installation of an oxygen deficiency monitor to protect worker safety.
Uses for Neon Gas
Neon gas can be filtered from helium using activated charcoal in a low temperature environment, or through the selective adsorption method. Once filtered out, neon can be used in the manufacturing of television tubes, plasma screens, and more.
Ne or neon gas is used for advertising signs, as are other noble gases. Neon is also used for television tubes, plasma screens, wave meter tubes, inside lightning arresters, and with high-voltage indicators.
The gas itself has no color until an electric charge is applied that alters the structure of the Ne molecules. Neon gas only produces a reddish orange color light, so other inert gases are used to make other colors. In plasma screens, individual neon lights interact with phosphors within the screen to product the vibrant colors. This interaction allows neon to make other colors.
In its liquid form, neon is extremely cold, and can act as a stronger refrigerant than liquid hydrogen or helium. Thus, the gas can be converted to liquid for use in cryogenic health tanks or other applications. There are potential cryonics applications for neon as well.
In recent years, noble gases including neon have been used to detect fracking leaks. Neon can be tracked as it moved, illustrating the path of leaked methane from the frack site. Neon is a good choice for this purpose since it will not interact with other natural elements.
As one of the inert gases, neon has a low environmental impact. The substance cannot react with other substances in the environment, which could pose harm. Neon is naturally found in the earth's environment in relatively low concentrations.
Neon gas itself has no color or odor naturally. The noble gas could seep into the environment in a manufacturing leak without anyone knowing what had happened.
How an Oxygen Deficiency Monitor Can Protect Workers From Neon Gas Danger
Like other inert gases, neon can act as an asphyxiant. This means that, if Ne leaks into the air, it begins to displace oxygen in the air. As oxygen levels fall, workers can experience confusion and respiratory problems. If employees do not evacuate in time, they can lose consciousness and die of asphyxiation from the lack of oxygen in the air. In extreme cases, this can happen in a matter of minutes before staff even have time to reach safety.
Since workers cannot see or smell the gas, they need a way to know when they are in danger of asphyxiation. Installing an oxygen monitor is one of these easiest ways to protect employees and provide early warning.
A wall-mounted O2 deficiency monitor continually checks the levels of oxygen in the air, to protect employee health. The monitor stays silent when everything is normal. As soon as oxygen levels fall below the threshold set by OSHA, the monitor will sound an alarm and flash colored lights to provide staff with clear notification. Workers can then evacuate before oxygen levels fall so low that they experience respiratory problems.
PureAire offers an O2 monitor built to withstand 10 years of use with no maintenance once it is installed. Oxygen monitors from PureAire contain zirconium sensors, which are accurate, efficient, and long-lasting. Simply by installing the right O2 monitor, businesses can protect their workers in environments where a noble gas is used.
To learn more about the oxygen monitors PureAire offers, please visit www.pureairemonitoring.com.
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