Liquid Oxygen and Nitrogen Tanks

Q1: What are liquid oxygen tanks, how do they work and how are they used in healthcare?
Liquid oxygen tanks are cryogenic storage systems that store oxygen in liquid form at approximately -183°C (-297°F), allowing facilities to keep larger oxygen volumes. 

One of the main uses of liquid oxygen in medical settings is to support a steady and reliable oxygen supply for hospitals, emergency care units and healthcare facilities. The oxygen is stored in insulated, pressurized tanks with regulators that control pressure and release. When needed, liquid oxygen is vaporized into gas through heat exchangers, then supplied through pipelines, portable tanks or medical gas systems.. 

At Air Liquide, we provide medical liquid oxygen tank systems designed for safe storage, controlled supply and reliable operation. 

Q2: What is liquid nitrogen and why is it used in medical, laboratory and industrial applications?
Liquid nitrogen is the liquefied form of nitrogen gas, produced through fractional distillation of liquid air and stored at approximately -196°C (-321°F).

In healthcare, it is often referred to as medical liquid nitrogen because it must meet strict regulatory and purity standards that differ from industrial-grade nitrogen. The medical use of liquid nitrogen supports rapid freezing, long-term preservation and the safe handling of temperature-sensitive materials.

At Air Liquide, we support customers with medical liquid nitrogen tank solutions designed for safe handling, reliable supply and application-specific requirements. 

Q3: What containers are used to store and transport liquid nitrogen and other cryogenic gases?
Liquid nitrogen and other cryogenic gases, such as oxygen, must be stored and transported in specially designed Dewar flasks, vacuum-insulated containers or tube trailers that can withstand extreme cold and help reduce evaporation.

For medical use, containers should be sealed, pressure-controlled, certified for medical-grade liquid nitrogen, suitable for clinical or laboratory environments and available in sizes that match the customer’s usage needs.

Q4: What cryogenic supply options does Air Liquide provide?
Air Liquide provides skid tank and bulk cryogenic supply systems with support for system selection, installation, maintenance and monitoring.

Skid tanks are suitable for monthly supply needs between 5,000m³ and 10,000m³, with capacities from 2,000 to 3,000 litres and pressure up to 450 psi.

Bulk supply is suitable for operations requiring more than 10,000m³ per month, where products are delivered in bulk and offloaded into cryogenic storage tanks at the customer’s facility. 

Q5: What does Air Liquide CryoService offer for small-volume liquid nitrogen needs?
For customers who need small volumes of liquid nitrogen, Air Liquide CryoService can deliver and fill liquid nitrogen directly at your site using cryogenic vans.

Liquid nitrogen is offloaded into stainless steel, vacuum-insulated vessels at your facility. We can also provide vessels, accessories and safety equipment, while our trained specialists advise on safe handling and recommend the right cryogenic storage.

Q6: What is medical cryogenics and what is it used for?
Medical cryogenics is the use of extremely low temperatures, including refrigeration below -180°C and gas liquefaction, in healthcare and medical processes.

It uses liquid gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, helium and hydrogen as refrigerants to modify physical properties or maintain specific temperatures during procedures, storage or preservation.

Medical cryogenics supports applications such as cryosurgery, cryopreservation and cryotherapy.