Chemical oxygen generator

Potassium superoxide was used as an oxygen source on early crewed missions of the Soviet space program, in submarines for use in emergency situations, for firefighters, and for mine rescue.

Commercial aircraft provide emergency oxygen to passengers to protect them in case of loss of cabin pressure.

When the passengers pull down on the mask they removed the retaining pins and triggered the production of oxygen.

In May 11, 1996, accidental activation of improperly shipped expired generators, mistakenly labeled as empty "oxy canisters",[4] caused the ValuJet Airlines Flight 592 crash, killing all on board.

The cause was the accidental activation of an oxygen generator, contained in the back of a broken DC-10 seat, being shipped in the cargo compartment to a repair station.

The candle must be wrapped in thermal insulation to maintain the reaction temperature and to protect surrounding equipment.

[citation needed] Clean, dry air is passed through the sieve beds on the oxygen generator, producing an oxygen-enriched gas.