Creating Liquid Oxygen: A Strenuous Process Yet Justified by Its Benefits
Catching a Glimpse of the Cryogenics World with [Shahriar]'s Liquid Oxygen Adventure
Usually, The Signal Path YouTube channel delves into the nitty-gritty of high-end test equipment for the microwave world. But this time, it's a different beat as [Shahriar] ventures into the fascinating realm of cryogenics, specifically creating liquid oxygen.
You might think getting oxygen is as simple as buying a tank from a gas supplier, but where's the thrill in that? So, [Shahriar] embarked on a low-cost journey with an off-the-shelf oxygen concentrator. This device uses the pressure-swing adsorption cycle we saw in DIY O concentrators during the early days of the pandemic. Despite some shortcomings in its performance compared to the claims, it still managed to produce enough reasonably pure oxygen for this unique endeavor.
Cooling oxygen is the next step, and for that mission, [Shahriar] turned to a cryocooler from a superconducting RF filter. This gadget has piqued our interest, and we're eager to learn more about it in the future. In the meantime, [Shahriar] managed to salvage the Stirling-cycle cryocooler and set it up in a test stand for optimal cooling. A constant flow of oxygen from the concentrator was supplied through a manifold, and strategically placed diodes were used to monitor the cold end's temperature—a technique we haven't seen before.
Once powered up, the cryocooler chilled down to the 77 Kelvin range rather quickly, and within an hour, [Shahriar] had at least a hundred milliliters of stunningly pale blue liquid-oxygen, which passed all the usual tests with flying colors.
We've seen a few attempts at DIY liquid nitrogen production, but this might be the first time we've seen someone make liquid oxygen. A hat's off to [Shahriar] for pushing the boundaries!
A Peek into Making Liquid Oxygen
To create liquid oxygen, air is compressed to high pressure, cooled, expanded, and then separated into components like oxygen, nitrogen, and others based on their boiling points. Oxygen has a relatively higher boiling point compared to nitrogen, which makes the separation possible. DIY cryogenics projects focusing on liquid oxygen require careful safety precautions due to the need for precise temperature control and dealing with potentially hazardous substances.
However, details about this particular project can be found only on The Signal Path channel. For a comprehensive understanding, we recommend checking out [Shahriar]'s video on this intriguing cryogenics adventure.
In the realm of DIY projects, [Shahriar]'s undertaking of creating liquid oxygen, a process that typically involves compressing air, cooling, expansion, and component separation, marks a novel exploration in health-and-wellness, as liquid oxygen has diverse applications in health, science, fitness-and-exercise, and technology. The hardware components used in this project, such as the off-the-shelf oxygen concentrator, cryocooler from a superconducting RF filter, Stirling-cycle cryocooler, and diodes, showcase an integration of various engineering disciplines. This adventure underscores the fascinating intersection of hardwares and Sciences, demonstrating the potential for innovative advancements.
