<div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/t/1469414/running-liquid-nitrogen-on-a-daily-basis#post_21841343" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false"><span>Quote:</span>

<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>ColdOC</strong> <a href="/t/1469414/running-liquid-nitrogen-on-a-daily-basis#post_21841343"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>

The link you sent was to a dewar. A dewar is only the vessel that liquid nitrogen (LN2) is carried in. The price per liter for liquid nitrogen can vary pretty wildly depending on the source of it, volume you are purchasing, and I imagine it's purity plays a role (how it's made). Some of the lower prices for LN2 I have read were between $0.10 to $0.20 per liter.<br><br>

The video you linked to was of a computer dipped into mineral oil, a fluid that does not conduct electricity. All his cooling was was a loop where the oil the pc was in was pumped through a largeish radiator (ambient temperatures). Mineral oil turns to a sort of gel like consistency when it gets below freezing and is very useless for this sort of application.<br><br>

Single stage phase change units (such as the ones at frozencpu) aren't comparable to liquid nitrogen. It's like telling a guy who was wanting to make a airplane that he should get a car instead. Single stage phase change units do not get anywhere near as cold as LN2 does, thus you cannot overclock to anywhere near the same frequencies.<br><br>

Just to be clear, a lot of the reason people use liquid nitrogen is because of how extremely cold it is and can be.<br><br>

I have been looking for a dual stage phase change (often called a cascade unit) but I haven't been able to find any sources. I very recently learned a term 'cryocooler'. They sound extremely similar to cascade units, but I haven't been able to locate anything that matched up with the power requirements.<br><br>

The idea isn't to make the pot for the LN2, I would probably just purchase whatever EK is selling. The idea I have is to make an automatic dispensing setup for LN2 that involves either a timed drip or a thermal on off system. Look into the norhof website, their 900 series device has some really neat features, but the cost of the device is a bit much. On the left bar of the norhof website, it says "example of controlling low temperature", you can click that and get idea of thermal control involving LN2.<br><br>

I think I would prefer to avoid using LN2, but, as I said, I haven't found a source for anything that can achieve similar results.</div>

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consider Fluorinert then or some other chemical that 3M produces, it can be chilled to -50 (yes not as much as LN2 but bear with me lol) and you can use it with common water cooling components or you can even immerse your pc in it.<br><br>

<a href="http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UgxGCuNyXTtnxTEo8z6EVtQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--&fn=prodinfo_FC43.pdf" target="_blank">http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UgxGCuNyXTtnxTEo8z6EVtQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--&fn=prodinfo_FC43.pdf</a><br><br>

for the temps you desire immersion or a total solution of some kind is incredibly important, not only are you going to want to keep the whole thing about the same temp, you wont ever want to let it warm back up because of the stresses of thermal expansion/contraction, think about what it would do to a mobo to have some parts at 50C and others at -200C and the fact that the mobo itself is going to want to equalize this temp difference.<br><br>

IE i would fully expect bowing or warping after prolonged 24/7 use of just LN2 to the cpu socket<br><br><br>

this norhof 900 is definitely along the lines of what you would be looking for but similarly you must understand that constantly running an unsealed LN2 drip would eventually fill your house with nitrogen and asphyxiate someone/thing right?<br><br>

its not just that LN2 is "difficult" or "expensive" to use, its downright dangerous if you have pets that can knock things over or small children that might accidentally interrupt your setup or if the gasses are not contained or evacuated.<br><br>

If your setup spills LN2 on anything truly valuable like a human or pet it creates permanent scars/burns and can kill.<br><br>

which is why the only safe way to use LN2 24/7 is in a sealed apparatus of some kind (inherently hard because its always trying to expand). so we are talking about vacuum flasks at the very least for storage.<br><br>

just saying its not just because its complex and expensive these are the main considerations but because of the level of safety involved and the high quality materials that must be used to achieve a safe setup.<br><br>

if you use a norhof 900 (which you could probably make with the proper tank a flow regulator, safety relief valve and a way to add just a little bit of extra pressure over time) or any simple "drip" system and if you plan to have this thing in your house i would definitely install a flue or some sort of evacuation system for the gasses produced. <- very important<br><br>

the reason i recommend relatively safe fluids like glycol mixes/oils or Fluorinert is because they can be contained easily, they produce no reactions when simply exposed to oxygen and can be in a <span style="text-decoration:underline;">sealed system</span>. you do not need to install things like flues in your house for safety and the whole system can be contained in a PC case or several PC cases as opposed to what will eventually be a small mountain of tanks, pipes fans and safety precautions. but again if you can build it i definitely want to see it (would be a first).<br><br>

if you could recycle the LN2 after it evaporates and compress it back into a liquid in a sealed system that would be best because again its sealed and cannot escape, but again that's a small mountain of industrial equipment.<br><br>

also consider for the temps you desire, any overclock that's worthy of those temps and cooling WILL work your hardware into the ground and all the freezing cold in the world will still not prevent those components from a short life.<br><br>

really besides just the complexity of containment, refilling, the gasses produced, safety of the fluid and organic matter. these are the real reasons why most do not use it 24/7 and you always see people using it either outdoors or in well ventilated areas.<br><br>

<a href="http://chemistry.about.com/od/moleculescompounds/a/liquidnitrogen.htm" target="_blank">http://chemistry.about.com/od/moleculescompounds/a/liquidnitrogen.htm</a><br><br>

but again not trying to dampen your enthusiasm i just don't want you to go ahead and throw a small fortune at this without understanding the risks involved and that it could be a total failure despite you taking every precaution<br><br>

if you can build it, it would definitely be an amazing first but do expect a final solution to be large cumbersome and likely expensive<br><br>

<a href="http://citizensciencequarterly.com/2011/05/liquid-nitrogen-generator/" target="_blank">http://citizensciencequarterly.com/2011/05/liquid-nitrogen-generator/</a><br><br>

this is really what your looking for a way to contain and re-compress the nitrogen once it evaporates.<br><br>

<a href="http://www.madshrimps.be/vbulletin/f22/make-your-own-ln2-home-24-7-ln2-cooler-imminent-72774/" target="_blank">http://www.madshrimps.be/vbulletin/f22/make-your-own-ln2-home-24-7-ln2-cooler-imminent-72774/</a><br><br>

or this