Quote:
Originally Posted by bartman
Ummm just a word of caution.......not that it might apply here, but just in case.
Nitrogen displaces oxygen.
In a confined space that could be a problem if the bottle has a leak .
Walk into a room that is filled with Nitrogen and you will suffocate ( unless there is sufficient ventilation of course).
Just something I learned whilst working on Varanus Island...... ( drying out pipes)
Bartman
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I work with liquid nitrogen and so am quite aware of the dangers. It's worth being aware that nitrogen asphixiation produces no symptoms .... zero zilch. You do not fell drowsy, you do not feel short of breath, nor tired. There is no warning. You simply collapse and if no one rescues you within a couple of moments you
will die. One person even died in the open air where cold nitrogen ponded in a pit.
In a 'normal' asphixiation situation the symptoms are produced by the build up of CO2 in the blood - not by the lack of oxygen. In this situation however there is no build up of CO2, it can vent normally. So you feel nothing.
During the safety induction I pound into every student's head that if there is ever a bulk leak of liquid nitrogen in the lab (we have 50l and 35l dewars) everyone is to leave immediately. No ifs, no buts, no wait till I finish this. (BTW I have absolutely no reason to believe we would ever have a dewar fail, but if it did there is no time for debate.)