Firing up a charcoal BBQ with liquid oxygen

I am pouring 1.5 liters of liquid oxygen on a bunch of smoldering charcoal briquettes. The oxygen rapidly turns to gas and accelerates the rate of combustion at the surface of the briquettes. Some of the charcoal fractures and shoots off tiny pieces that burn with a bright light.

I made the liquid oxygen by passing gaseous oxygen through a copper tube that was submerged in liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen is colder than the boiling point of oxygen, so it causes the oxygen to condense and be ejected as a liquid from the other end of the tube. Liquid nitrogen can be bought at welding supply stores, however I made a batch myself with a cryocooler. See here for more info: http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2008/08/diy-liquid-nitrogen-generator.html
http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/lighting-bbq-with-liquid-oxygen.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• liquid oxygen
• oxygen
• BBQ
• barbeque
• oxidizer
• rapid combustion
• charcoal
• ben krasnow

[nicktohzyu]

why not just make a batch of LOX with your cyrocooler directly?

[bkraz333]

@nicktohzyu I could have done this, but my system is somewhat leaky, so having my oxygen tank connected up to the liquifier rig for a day or two would probably result in a lot of lost gas.  The nitrogen membrane provides a continuous source of relatively pure nitrogen.

[vmelkon]

Can you freeze some "rubbing alcohol with LOX or LN2? Can you make a video?

[bkraz333]

@vmelkon Search youtube for "freezing acetone with liquid nitrogen". NurdRage did a good video on this topic. Most if not all organic solvents will be frozen solid at liquid nitrogen temperatures.

[cessna140pilot]

Quick! Hold my beer

[mrbill1560]

Good thing He had no hair

[vmelkon]

@bkraz333 Yes, I have seen that one. I am subscribed to his channel.

[0871Atta]

@Silverwolf678 Yeah I either read that wrong or I was trolling, I can't remember now. =p

[Silverwolf678]

@0871Atta can you read headings? liquid OXYGEN was used, not nitrogen...

[dansdata]

Professor George H. Goble 4 life, yo.