The Liquid Nitrogen Cooling Thread!

[nflesher87]

Hey guys!

At school here I have a readily available supply of LN (Approx. 50 gallon vat that's refilled weekly used for NMR spectroscopy) and I was thinking we should get a thread going to help educate on how to use LN to cool for max overclocks when benchmarking!

I don't know a whole lot about it as of yet. Obviously the general idea is there but not the methods used (ie. time-frame, heatsinks to use, etc). To be perfectly honest I'm surprised that components can even boot at that low of a temperature.

So start posting about any general knowledge and let's educate ourselves :)
As I said I have the potential to LN cool once I know enough of what I'm doing...that's not saying that I'll have the components worth trying to OC that high though :laugh:

Leeeeet's Go! (<-- Credit: Captain Teneal from MXC :D)

[bubba_000]

This must be the crazyest cooling system yet:laugh::laugh:

Seriously, I don't think that's a very good ideea. Corect me if I'm wrong, but LN literally freezes anything it touches, so to use it as a coolant for a pc would be way too much

[Solaris17]

dude liquid nitrogen i want some omg cooling buuild something show us ill gove you a cookie maybe see how the amazing arch of the p3 operates at 4ghz as copmparted to a p4

[kwchang007]

This must be the crazyest cooling system yet:laugh::laugh:

Seriously, I don't think that's a very good ideea. Corect me if I'm wrong, but LN literally freezes anything it touches, so to use it as a coolant for a pc would be way too much

You do realize that LN is used for the really really extreme world record overclocking runs?

@nflesher, sorry i have no clue how to use LN :o

[DaMulta]

Just submerge your whole motherboard in it.

[infrared]

No, you don't wanna get the caps that cold or they stop working lol :roll:

[Sasqui]

Most of the OC'ing records involve liquid nitrogen. Certainly not practical in everyday use, but it's a hobbiests dream. Not to mention all sorts of other "cool" things you can do with the stuff :rolleyes:

It's obviously VERY dangerous stuff to play with. Spatter a little bit on your skin to find out. Just about everyone I've ever seen working with the stuff wears a plastic face protector - just imagine it in your eyes, can you say "blind"?

The enemy for electrical circuits is condensation... I'm sure thermal expansion and contraction also could do some nasty things.

I wish I had some to play with - dry ice is fun, but that takes the cake.

[nflesher87]

dude liquid nitrogen i want some omg cooling buuild something show us ill gove you a cookie maybe see how the amazing arch of the p3 operates at 4ghz as copmparted to a p4

haha settle down there bro...

and yes kwchang is right, there are many techies out there using LN though the only ones you hear of are those setting the world records.
as of now it's the only way to dissipate the heat generated from applying enough voltage to run for example the x6800 at 5.5ghz like the pros do
I also had another idea that could be eventually put to use:
Liquid Helium...:D the temp of LN is about 44K whereas LHe is around 4K haha and requires LN to keep it there for enough time to use it before it all evaporates :laugh:
I suppose we should get through the basics of LN cooling first though :roll:

[nflesher87]

Most of the OC'ing records involve liquid nitrogen. Certainly not practical in everyday use, but it's a hobbiests dream. Not to mention all sorts of other "cool" things you can do with the stuff :rolleyes:

It's obviously VERY dangerous stuff to play with. Spatter a little bit on your skin to find out. Just about everyone I've ever seen working with the stuff wears a plastic face protector - just imagine it in your eyes, can you say "blind"?

The enemy for electrical circuits is condensation... I'm sure thermal expansion and contraction also could do some nasty things.

I wish I had some to play with - dry ice is fun, but that takes the cake.

I've had a squirt gun fight with LN before haha as long as the stream is narrow enough it doesn't hurt you, just evaporates too quick to do any damage

and yeah @ damulta haha that just wouldn't work... :slap:
the LN must be contained in a heatsink

[DaMulta]

No, you don't wanna get the caps that cold or they stop working lol :roll:

http://www.chrisabraham.com/orly-thumb.jpg

I have always wondered if you could because it's non conductive

[nflesher87]

I have always wondered if you could because it's non conductive

haha yeah as infrared said the capacitors will stop functioning and basically when you try and turn everything on it will all fry! or blow up...not quite sure :laugh:

[DaMulta]

haha yeah as infrared said the capacitors will stop functioning and basically when you try and turn everything on it will all fry! or blow up...not quite sure :laugh:

See it needs to be tested;)

[bubba_000]

WOW, LN is really crazy. But isn'tt freon enough?

[nflesher87]

See it needs to be tested;)

haha be my guest :)

at bubba:
LN -195.86 C
Freon -456.865 C

Lower Boiling point yes but you'd have to be licensed to buy it in liquid form I believe and it just wouldn't be nearly as practical...plus ever wonder why you can't just leave fridges and freezers and ACs out for the garbage men? look at your avatar for a hint ;)

[Jimmy 2004]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=32525

Someone else with liquid nitrogen.

[kwchang007]

haha be my guest :)

at bubba:
LN -195.86 C
Freon -456.865 C

Lower Boiling point yes but you'd have to be licensed to buy it in liquid form I believe and it just wouldn't be nearly as practical...plus ever wonder why you can't just leave fridges and freezers and ACs out for the garbage men? look at your avatar for a hint ;)

Freon goes radioactive? I never knew that....lol. Have you found a way to run the LN? Don't you need like anti condensation stuff and then those tubes or stuff to pour it down into? At least from the pics of the the dudes that break the 06 records that's what it looks like.

[Ben Clarke]

If you plan on using LN to cool your system, make sure you have an airtight WC system, to stop the liquid evaporating. Also, it needs to be, IIRC, stainless stell on all of it, otherwise it'll expand and break.

Off topic, do you think you could buy some from the school?

[nflesher87]

Freon goes radioactive? I never knew that....lol. Have you found a way to run the LN? Don't you need like anti condensation stuff and then those tubes or stuff to pour it down into? At least from the pics of the the dudes that break the 06 records that's what it looks like.

geez let's get technical! I was referring to hazardous waste :p

@ben: I'm pretty sure that's not all necessary, as long as the room is at a low temperature and highly dehumidified there wouldn't been a problem and as for the WC kit aspect I'm pretty sure that just wouldn't work at all, I don't know of a system that can pump a closed loop while resisting the pressure that would be created by the LN boiling...

as for buying it I'm pretty sure they'd just let me use it...it's a fairly small college and being a Biochem major I'm pretty close to the whole Chem department, not to mention the head is my advisor...plus they'd probably be just as interested to see what I can do so that'd be more incentive :)

[kwchang007]

geez let's get technical! I was referring to hazardous waste :p

@ben: I'm pretty sure that's not all necessary, as long as the room is at a low temperature and highly dehumidified there wouldn't been a problem and as for the WC kit aspect I'm pretty sure that just wouldn't work at all, I don't know of a system that can pump a closed loop while resisting the pressure that would be created by the LN boiling...

as for buying it I'm pretty sure they'd just let me use it...it's a fairly small college and being a Biochem major I'm pretty close to the whole Chem department, not to mention the head is my advisor...plus they'd probably be just as interested to see what I can do so that'd be more incentive :)

Ohhh close enough, lol. Lucky, getting to use LN for free.

[nflesher87]

lol not guaranteed free...but I'm banking on it...although if the guy in that other thread had to use 50L for one run I'm not quite sure heh
unless he just took his good old time or something haha

[Steevo]

I have R12 cans in the shop, or I can buy a 30Lb canister of R134.



Plus there is a condenser in the scrap pile I have been looking at. But a ammonia loop is more in my mind.

[nflesher87]

I have R12 cans in the shop, or I can buy a 30Lb canister of R134.

Plus there is a condenser in the scrap pile I have been looking at. But a ammonia loop is more in my mind.

I've gotta be completely honest, I pretty much have no idea what you're talking about :)

[bigboi86]

He's talking about different types of freon used for A/C.

[Sasqui]

I've had a squirt gun fight with LN before haha as long as the stream is narrow enough it doesn't hurt you, just evaporates too quick to do any damage


What? You must have been smoking something, or incredibly lucky.

From Perdue University:

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/Chem/ln2.htm

"Liquid nitrogen can cause terrible burns. Hand protection and goggles (not safety glasses) are to be worn when dispensing and handling liquid nitrogen. When handling large quantities, a full length apron will minimize the chance of a spill going into your shoes, where it might destroy some cubic centimeters of flesh before you can get your shoes and socks off. Persons using a tipper to dispense LN2 must wear a full face shield over goggles, cryo-gloves, full length cuffless trousers which completely cover the tops of the shoes (or a full length apron), and shoes which will not permit liqufied gas to enter them in case of a spill, and which are also quickly removable in case they do (allow liquid to enter). "

[nflesher87]

He's talking about different types of freon used for A/C.

gotcha ;)

[nflesher87]

as an update I got confirmation that we definitely have extra LN2 that I can use if I ask :D haha the department was quite liberal about us using it today to make ice cream and dang was it good! it tasted like frosty from wendys but tons better!

[kwchang007]

as an update I got confirmation that we definitely have extra LN2 that I can use if I ask :D haha the department was quite liberal about us using it today to make ice cream and dang was it good! it tasted like frosty from wendys but tons better!

Yumm ice cream....lucky you.

[Sasqui]

Sweet - instant freeze means no crystals = Gooooooood ice cream :)

Wish I could get my hands on some of the stuff!

[Ben Clarke]

So do I... I wonder if the stuff in wart freezer would work?

[nflesher87]

So do I... I wonder if the stuff in wart freezer would work?

I don't think I'd try it :)

and yeah @sasqui lol we weren't using gloves or anything, it splashed me a little and no harm done...I was stirring the ice cream while my buddy poured
it was quite possibly the best ice cream I've ever had lol
3x little carton of whipping cream
1/2x a larger carton of half and half
tons of sugar and hershey's choc. syrup
and I'd say we used maybe a gallon of LN2 max wasn't really keeping track

[Sasqui]

I don't think I'd try it :)

and yeah @sasqui lol we weren't using gloves or anything, it splashed me a little and no harm done...I was stirring the ice cream while my buddy poured
it was quite possibly the best ice cream I've ever had lol
3x little carton of whipping cream
1/2x a larger carton of half and half
tons of sugar and hershey's choc. syrup
and I'd say we used maybe a gallon of LN2 max wasn't really keeping track

You're a madman :toast: Check those spots in the next few days, make sure you haven't perforated yourself :rolleyes:

Quite the recipe.

[zCexVe]

Pros use it.So we cant be that far.But we have to be really careful when fiddlin wit them I think.I suggest u may start building those cylinders,find some thermometers for the thing..There was a video on how to do LN cooling on tomshardware,mm in about 2003.Those pipe making stuff,putting them.It will help ya.And congrats on what u r doin.Hope u will do well.

[nflesher87]

Pros use it.So we cant be that far.But we have to be really careful when fiddlin wit them I think.I suggest u may start building those cylinders,find some thermometers for the thing..There was a video on how to do LN cooling on tomshardware,mm in about 2003.Those pipe making stuff,putting them.It will help ya.And congrats on what u r doin.Hope u will do well.

hey thanks bro as soon as i get a chance (ie after my final exam friday morning and I'm free!!! till classes start back up sept. 3rd that is...:shadedshu) I'll check that out over at tom's!

[Ben Clarke]

hey thanks bro as soon as i get a chance (ie after my final exam friday morning and I'm free!!! till classes start back up sept. 3rd that is...:shadedshu) I'll check that out over at tom's!

HAHA! We don't go back to school till the 4th! And I get that day off because it's when I come back from Portugal!

[nflesher87]

you'll see when you get to college :)
Just took Inorganic Chem and Analytical Chem this summer...finishing up Analytical right now
I didn't have to take them during the summer of course, but when you have 6+ years of school after the 4 of undergrad, you get what you can done as quick as you can ;)

[Stagnok]

We have a 5000 gallon tank of LN here at my work, which is also used to produce our LN2 lines at around 3000psi. I use the LN to remove warts should I have one. Just soak a wooden Q-Tip in the LN and press onto the wart, and hold for a few seconds. :) Hurts so good.

[Beertintedgoggles]

at bubba:
LN -195.86 C
Freon -456.865 C


Just a quick physics note, absolute zero is the coldest you can go... 0 Kelvin, -273.15 °C, -459.67 °F

[Seany1212]

lol yea and that'd mean superconductivity :roll:

[nflesher87]

Just a quick physics note, absolute zero is the coldest you can go... 0 Kelvin, -273.15 °C, -459.67 °F

hm good point! I looked that up real fast on chemfinder.com and pasted it, I guess they were wrong!

[bassmasta]

>.> as far as i know, to cool w/ ln, you can use an aluminum square under a pbc tube over the cpu to cool it, where you pour the nitrogen through said tube, and the rapid decompression should keep moisture in the air from moving in to condense. <.< I only know this because I know someone who tried to set a record for clocking an athlon 64, but couldn't afford to buy enough nitrogen.

[nflesher87]

thanks for the info bro, sounds like a pretty simple setup, and I have easy access to the LN2 ;)

[hat]

Break the world record... have the school fund your research, buy an extremely uber PC and break the record :o

[ex_reven]

http://www.physik.uni-augsburg.de/~ubws/nitrogen.html
:)

[nflesher87]

Break the world record... have the school fund your research, buy an extremely uber PC and break the record :o

I'm seriously thinking about it, they already know I'm into technology and trust me since I already got us started up F@H ;)

and haha @reven! that's a sweet site thanks man! I'm going to try some of that stuff out!!! I like the second to last story about the cat hahahaha :roll: