Need some advice from Liquid Nitrogen experts

[Darkmatterx]

This is OT, but I can't think of anyone else who would know how to help me with this stuff.

I rent a room in an apartment where there is no AC. Summer is coming and I don't want to fry... I don't have a window that'd let me put in a regular AC so I had an idea.

Using Liquid Nitrogen to cool water which would then cool the air around the water, which I could circulate using a fan to keep my room cool.

Now, I know that you can't just seal the stuff cause it'll blow up. BUT, I have seen what looks like sealed cooling units for CPU's. So, is there a way to seal some Liquid Nitrogen in a metal container, then put that into a bucket of water so that I can use a fan to blow around the air that is cooled?

Some additonal questions. Would all the water in the bucket freeze? Could I prevent it from freezing by using anti-freeze? Any other problems that I might have?

Any thoughts on this crazy idea of mine? Thanks

 

[Auburn9698]

LOL
Do you know the temperature of liquid nitrogen?
I think you may have seen "sealed cooling units for CPUs" in the form of water cooling without liquid nitrogen.

War Eagle

 

[LtBlue14]

lol, if you could LN2 cool your room, that'd really be somethin =)
unfortunately i don't really see it as possible. i can't think of any way you could get it to work. you have to have the LN2 in an open container once you start warming it (by putting into water, for instance) because it will expand and, as you said, blow up your container. there's no way around it. which means you'll have to constantly be replacing the stuff (every 15 minutes?) depending on how big your container is
meanwhile i'll try to think of other ways to cool your room

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[error_911]

i mean wouldn't it be easier to slice a hole in the window and mount an AC ? also, puttin a ceilin fan helps <i>a little</i>, and I think Bausch & Lomb make a wall-mounted air conditioning unit

<b>people are only idiots when they don't realize - when they do it just gets funnier, like a dog chasing its own tail, or like george bush's public address(es)</b>

 

[Teq]

Instead of messing with dangerously cold chemicals, why not just do this:

<A HREF="http://www.spotfree.net/aircon.html" target="_new">http://www.spotfree.net/aircon.html</A>





--->It ain't better if it don't work<---

 

[Darkmatterx]

Thanks for the info. I thought you could force the LN2 to not expand by sealing it. Sort if like compressed air or a propane tank.

As for a normal AC in the window, I don't see how I could do that. The only window that opens up is a fairly narrow window, and the glass slides left to right and has a screen that can't be removed as far as I can tell.

Teq: Thanks for the link but those prices are well out of my range. But they were slick looking units.

I wonder if I could put a regular AC on a stand inside my room and just have a bucket under it to collect the condinsation...? Hmm dunno if that would work or not...

 

[Teq]

I found that very quickly... I was mostly wanting to give you the idea.

There are cheaper units like this... I saw one in a local hardware store the other day for $399cdn.

(BTW.. I have the same window problem you do, in my computer room)

--->It ain't better if it don't work<---

 

[LtBlue14]

puttin the AC unit on a table in your room will do nothing, because where will the heat go? the idea of an AC unit is that the heat goes outside. you'll have it blowing cold air one way and hot air the other. won't be very effective =)
try finding a cheap unit like the one Teq put up. otherwise just get a few fans, some water bottles, and sweat it out :-/

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[LtBlue14]

fyi, he's coolin his room, not a processor. it's a bit misleading b/c he posted in a computer forum.
also LN2 isn't THAT expensive, you can get it for $.20/liter wholesale, if you have connections. otherwise it'll be like a buck or two. nothin outrageous though, gasoline costs more
it WOULD cost a lot if you were gonna constantly try to keep a container filled to somehow keep your room cold. that's kinda ridiculous haha

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[JimmyDean]

Hmmm Bad idea
LN2 will sublime and turn to gas before you can use much to cool. You would not be able to sustain it in anyway. If you want to do some good cooling for cheaper dry ice is the way to go


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[jaythaman]

Can't you just install a split a/c????

<b><font color=blue>Go "love" yourself </b></font color=blue>

 

[knowan]

For your idea for liquid N2, you would need a very strong containger to keep it under pressure. I'm no mechanical engineer, but offhand I can't think of anything that you could use to hold it. Plus it would then be cold enough to freeze the water solid.

As for using dry ice, don't forget that you'll need adequite ventilation. Dry ice is solid CO2, once it melts it turns to gas, and you'll suffocate if you breath CO2. The same holds true for N2 by that way.

You could just try using a filled propane tank. That won't freeze that water and shouldn't leak either. If it does leak at least you'll smell it (hopefully before you light a match).

Of course, with propane tanks and N2 gas the container will actually get colder as the gas is realesed. Anyone who's used a propane barbeque will tell you that there's very little condensation when they start their BBQ, but when they are finished there may be a frost on the tank.

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[Darkmatterx]

Thanks everyone. I'm looking into getting an A/C unit that doesn't require a window. Until this thread, I didn't even know they existed. Now I just have to find one that won't break the bank.

 

[Grub]

Dark Matter I used to run a LN2 plant at a wafer fab in California. First off you should probably use CO2 as it is cheaper and more available. You can purchase it in dewars from you local welding shop. A dewar is a thermos-like metal conatiner that automatically controls the pressure with an integerated regulator. The best way to cool you room would to get an aluminum radiator (aluminum is better for cryo applications) and run the gas through it and out of the room. Blow through the fan with the radiator. It is very important that no matter what gas you go with, it must be vented to the outside. If not you will suffocate and die...have a nice day

Any man can withstand adversity...The true test of character is to give a man power <i>Abraham Lincoln</i>

 

[lhgpoobaa]

heh... i wonder if he will kill himself with the nitrogen.

If he wants in in his room to cool it, then there is going to be a hell of a bioloff of nitrogen, and thus the oxygen content of the room is going to go way down. Could asphyxiate onesself without ventilation. The same applies with solid CO2.

Either sweat it out or install evaporative cooling or aircon.

<b>Now can someone explain how we ever got the idea that baby bunnies lay multicolored eggs made of chocolate in our living rooms?" :lol: </b>
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[Darkmatterx]

haha *sigh* this is what I get for trying to "think outside the box"

Oh well, I found out about the windowless AC's, and I won't freeze and shatter my hand, or die in a cloud of Nitrogen. Was all worth it, so enjoy your laugh.


LN2 SEEMED like a good idea at the time......

 

[lhgpoobaa]

well it would look schnazzy, but not the most practical room cooling method.

have lots and lots of clouds of vapour about... that would look cool.


<b>Now can someone explain how we ever got the idea that baby bunnies lay multicolored eggs made of chocolate in our living rooms?" :lol: </b>
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[tombance]

I saw someone who built a jet engine to burn propane whilst he submersed the propane bottle in water and then used this to cool his beer. Good idea, but you would get through a hell of a lot of propane.

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[Auburn9698]

Heh, that's liking taking a trip to the moon to get some rocks.

War Eagle

 

[namek0]

I remember that, it was on slashdot back in the day I think.

If memory serves me, it took only a few seconds for a beer to get near freezing, and boy would that earn a lot of respect (the jet engine, not the beer)

It's all good ^_^