Let's discuss and break the 5 biggest myths about PSA systems and delve into the cold and reliable facts.

The second wave of COVID-19 caused an oxygen crisis in India. In May 2021, India's medical oxygen demand reached 2.3 million standard 7 mᶾ cylinders per day. The massive surge in new cases has led to a sudden surge in oxygen demand, ensuring oxygen supply and technical support has become an almost insurmountable challenge. The hospital ran out of oxygen, and the huge gap between supply and demand caused excessive price increases. 

The instability of medical oxygen supply has led to the paralysis of the healthcare system, which indicates that a strong and reliable infrastructure is urgently needed to provide patients with medical oxygen. Although most hospitals still rely on oxygen cylinders to meet their daily needs (we now know that this kind of system cannot survive in times of crisis), a better alternative has emerged-a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system.

During the crisis, affordable and sustainable medical oxygen supply has become a challenge, so the PSA oxygen concentrator has become a trusted alternative. The Indian government announced the installation of 551 PSA factories across the country in April 2021, and PSA systems were soon installed in major public health facilities. Quoting several myths and misunderstandings surrounding the PSA factory. Let's discuss and break the 5 biggest myths about PSA systems and delve into the cold and reliable facts.

1) PSA factory needs to be operated by trained technicians

This is a misunderstanding. Like any other equipment used in ICUs and intensive care units, the PSA system is easy to operate and does not require technical training by hospital staff. Most popular models are actually just "plug and play" and ensure trouble-free operation. Hospital staff only need to follow the basic operating instructions, just like any professional equipment, they can operate seamlessly.

On the contrary, PSA equipment is a safer alternative to cylinder oxygen. During the pandemic, India struggled with oxygen transportation rather than oxygen production. There are many risks in handling high-pressure steel cylinders, and the case of a fire in a hospital is sufficient to prove the seriousness of these risks. The PSA system equips the hospital with special equipment for the production of medical oxygen, thereby eliminating the hazards involved in transporting oxygen cylinders and eliminating the risk of fire caused by the increase in cylinder pressure during peak demand periods. PSA devices not only provide smarter solutions for generating an uninterrupted medical oxygen supply, but they are also safer.

3) High maintenance rate of PSA equipment

Like any other professional medical equipment, the PSA factory requires routine maintenance every 6 months and our last inspection, which cannot be classified as high maintenance. Captive oxygen production equipment such as PSA may only require basic maintenance related to filters and oil changes. It only takes a few days to get the PSA equipment up and running with minimal maintenance after installation. There is no extra maintenance and upkeep that the hospital should be concerned about. 

4) PSA system takes up a lot of space

In fact, the limited space requirement is one of the biggest advantages of the PSA system. The PSA oxygen plant occupies a maximum area of ​​7x9x7 feet. Yes, nothing more. 

High-pressure gas cylinders require larger storage space, but the PSA system has a smaller footprint. Although cryogenic equipment takes up a lot of space in addition to high energy consumption, the PSA system generates oxygen from ambient air and serves as a reliable source of oxygen without the need for structural changes or layout rearrangements in the hospital to accommodate the system. All people need a well-ventilated space to provide ambient oxygen, nothing more! If anything, it is a win-win situation.

5) It is a liability during periods of low demand

Contrary to popular belief, PSA oxygen concentrators are not specifically designed for epidemic-like situations, but to enable hospitals to be self-reliant in terms of continuous and long-term medical oxygen demand. Considering the agile design of medical oxygen production, this includes high and low demand curves, both of which can be matched. Hospital staff can easily increase or decrease the output of medical oxygen as needed. Hospitals can use a large number of available customizations and effectively use technology to keep up with fluctuating demand levels.

Like every new innovation that challenges the status quo, countless myths about the PSA system are also circulating. But again, as with every innovation, end users need to fully understand the benefits and use case scenarios associated with the technology. The above is an attempt to do it! Liquid medical oxygen is cumbersome to transport and store, and potentially dangerous, while PSA equipment is safer, more compact, and more cost-effective. PSA equipment has the lowest logistical obstacles and is easy to install. It is a turnkey system to ensure easy access to pure medical oxygen. Perhaps, with widespread industry adoption, they can play a huge role in ensuring that we will never face another oxygen crisis. Because there should never be a lack of a substance, which is what every organism needs to survive every second; should it be?

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