Which statement best reflects the deliverable volume of an oxygen cylinder, given realistic regulator efficiency?

Which statement best reflects the deliverable volume of an oxygen cylinder, given realistic regulator efficiency?

• A. 500 L
• B. 560 L
• C. 600 L
• D. 625 L

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the amount you can actually deliver from an oxygen cylinder is less than the cylinder’s stated content because the regulator and delivery system consume some gas. An E cylinder, when full, contains roughly 660–680 liters of oxygen at the high pressure inside the tank. Once you pass through the regulator and flow system, you don’t get all of that volume; realistic regulator efficiency reduces the deliverable amount by about 10–15%. Using a typical factor (around 0.85) gives about 560 liters of usable oxygen (660 × 0.85 ≈ 560). Among the options, 560 liters best matches this real-world deliverable after accounting for those losses. The 625 liters would be the nominal contents before regulation, and 600 liters would be an optimistic estimate with minimal losses, while 500 liters would imply greater losses than usually expected.

The key idea is that the amount you can actually deliver from an oxygen cylinder is less than the cylinder’s stated content because the regulator and delivery system consume some gas. An E cylinder, when full, contains roughly 660–680 liters of oxygen at the high pressure inside the tank. Once you pass through the regulator and flow system, you don’t get all of that volume; realistic regulator efficiency reduces the deliverable amount by about 10–15%. Using a typical factor (around 0.85) gives about 560 liters of usable oxygen (660 × 0.85 ≈ 560).

Among the options, 560 liters best matches this real-world deliverable after accounting for those losses. The 625 liters would be the nominal contents before regulation, and 600 liters would be an optimistic estimate with minimal losses, while 500 liters would imply greater losses than usually expected.