DIY Liquid Nitrogen for Less Than $500 - Ben Krasnow

Ben Krasnow explains how he built a liquid nitrogen generator from less than $500 in surplus components. This was filmed at Maker Faire California 2010

http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2008/08/diy-liquid-nitrogen-generator.html

Category:

Education

Tags:

• DIY
• Ben Krasnow
• Jeri Ellsworth
• liquid nitrogen
• compressor
• LN2
• cryocooler

[deaultusername]

The noise is horrible. Sound like you would require ear plugs if was a work enviroment.

But aside from that have a question.

The helium in the cooler do you have to fill it up and where would a diyer get such helium.

[jeriellsworth]

@deaultusername Sorry about the noise. Sorry it's not my project, so I can't say for sure about the helium, but I suspect there is a recharge fitting from what I know about helium. Helium is a tiny little molecule and leaks out easily. This is why it's used in vacuum leak tests.

[DrMario2007baka]

Plus, be very careful around Liqueified Oxygen that results from that kind of cooling: It ain't flammable, but it has a habit of making everything else as explosive. Oxygen is an oxidizer, so don't smoke your favorite brand of cigarette while making LN2, or it could be your last.

[jeriellsworth]

@DrMario2007baka He mentions the N2 membrane filter, so it's only condensing nitrogen.

[orion1077]

that guy at the back...the one who is banging frying pans together....somebody hit him with something hard...!!!

[ytmachx]

Very interesting, but that racket in the background was making it hard to hear.

[magicstix0r]

@deaultusername Party supply centers tend to sell tanks of helium for balloons. I also bought a small tank of helium at Wal-mart once for an unrelated project.

[NOBOX7]

this machine kicks ass, i would make liquid o2 with it ...

[NOBOX7]

whats less then 500$ the electricity to run it, i see about 9,000$ or more worht of hardware there, no way that machine cost under 500$ the air lines , fittings and desicant cannisters and filters... alone cost you well over 500$, i build this kinda stuff in my dreams dood wen im rich , even if it was made outa parts from china painted with radio active lead paint it would still cost you well over 500$

[DrMario2007baka]

@nicktohzyu, yeah but what about the tubings that's exposed to liquified Nitrogen? It's no big deal when sealed and packaged, the problem lies in how the air refrigerator / compressor hardwares are built - some DIY hardware aren't even built that way so Oxygen is, safe to say, always present. And yes, filters are a must as you want the pure stuff - impure LN2 tend to evaporate quickly for some reasons.

[nicktohzyu]

@DrMario2007baka thats what the filter is for...

[Digadogup]

ear rape

[WiztotheIzzard]

@deaultusername The helium is sealed in to the Stirling cryocooler permanently, and is not meant to be refilled.

[omnicide6661]

@jeriellsworth helium is an atomic element, not a molecule.

[timerider4]

That is awesome. I would love to be able to build that.