Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Enviro chamber liquid CO2 question?
Grumpy wrote:
"bart" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
I hope I'm not too way off base here in asking for advice, but you
guys seem to know everything!! :-)
Boss at work bought a $99.00 environmental chamber and told me to
"make it work".
( this one's sibling:
http://cgi.ebay.com/AES-ENVIRONMENTA...8 6.m20.l1116)
When we recieved it, it didn't "do" anything.
I kept flipping the switch back & forth and eventually some sticky
relays started "working", that is, the heater /fan started working and
the gas solenoid clicked in - depending on the temperature dial.
A label on the back says it is to be cooled with liquid CO2.
Somebody retrofitted it with a 300PSI solenoid - We have since then
gotten a 1000PSI liquid CO2 solenoid.
The wiring in it is OLD and BRITTLE, BTW.
A few hours ago my boss is on my ass to get the cooling working by
next week.
Now I have a basic oxy/acetylene rig at home, but have never played
with liquid CO2.
I'm not exactly sure of what fittings/tubing to use ( copper,
stainless, double flare??).
Also, the boss says that CO2 isn't toxic, so therefore we aren't going
to vent it.
(it's setup in the back of a kitchen, where I work {our "lab"}- with
zero ventilation)
I don't mind doing potentially dangerous stuff in my own garage ( with
the door open), but this is an office full of people.
Am I way off base telling him to hire a professional to do the gas
fitting ( and leave the premises when he runs it without ventilation?)
Just wanted another opinion.
(And yes, I am looking for another job)
Thanks in Advance!
B
CO2 can be dangerous.
I spent a lot of time as an engineer in the brewing industry,and we worked
with it all the time. The 1000psi solenoid is pretty low as co2 can reach
1200 psi on a hot day. We used conventional steel pipe and flaged fittings,
but as you are only using small sizes flared stainless steel would probably
be appropriate.
I would suggest SS tubing and the Swage-lock fittings to avoid the
tooling hassle of flared fittings.
Vent the room or you may kill someone
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