Note: This test using air supplied to an Exit Bag over estimates the gas flow required in order to remove the carbon dioxide. When there is no oxygen in the supplied gas, carbon dioxide production will be less, so 15 liter/min rate is sufficient.
A Max Dog regulator can be set to 15 liters/ min. The gas will then flow at this rate until the cylinder’s contents are exhausted (~300/15 or ~20 minutes) which is much more than is needed for a peaceful death.
Gas Purity Testing
For a quick and peaceful hypoxic death, it is important that there be no oxygen (or air) in the gas being breathed. It is the sudden reduction in oxygen level (from the 21% in air) to ef- fectively 0% (within the confines of the Exit bag), that results in the immediate loss of consciousness. Common uses of com- pressed nitrogen (eg. brewing, food preservation) depend on an absence of oxygen so there is no possibility of contamina- tion of the sourced gas.
Nevertheless, if there are any concerns about gas purity, the level of any oxygen contamination can easily be checked. Here is how to do it.
1. Obtain an accurate oxygen sensor eg. Detector CY-12C Oxygen Analyzer, cost ~US$100 (available at Amazon)
2. Calibrate the sensor by setting the gauge to 21% in air 3. Attach the flow regulator jet to the gas cylinder and con- nect the hose to run a steady flow (eg 1 liter/ min) of gas into the filtered input of the gauge
4. Let the gas flow until a steady reading is obtained on the most sensitive gauge setting