Recent content by MrFreezeMiser

CFD is beyond my expertise. However, I could run some controlled tests on steel/GIP, copper and CPVC in my shop to gather better measurements. Do you think more refined measurements would help? I was thinking of even doing some partial freezes and cutting open the pipes to observe and measure...

Summarily…it’s possible if 3/4” steel froze in 5-mins as for 3/4” CPVC I use 25-mins. I’ve never frozen steel pipe in either location, but I have frozen both copper and CPVC in Colorado. Field results suggest 12-minutes for 3/4” copper with water (guessing) between 10º-16ºC and 25 minutes for...

As a welder myself you use a lot more power/heat welding aluminum (even adding a touch of CO2 to my gas mix for penetration) and often you have to back it with stainless steel to act as a heat sink to avoid melting everything. It’s an interesting point, Dullard, basically you’re stating: the...

That‘s my guess. It would be interesting to conduct testing with a slightly smaller freeze head designed just for copper.

It’s a great question. I was surprised by this, too—moreso when instructions state freezing plastic (even lower thermal conductivity) takes considerably even longer. Clearly, thermal conductivity matters, but what else is at play here? Lots! it turns out—including altitude—as I am learning...

Modestly ”crude”, Chestermiller. It is amazing to me and hopefully others. Thank you

In both locations (Denver and Detroit), the temperature of the incoming water is somewhat similar at 48ºF-55ºF (closer to 10ºC) depending on season. Looking at the “Freeze Head” (what I’ve been calling clamp) there is quite a bit of space (interstice) that does fill with dry ice. I measured...

The more I become educated by everyone contributing here and now looking at the bigger diameter of the adapter outlet going into the clamp, the more I think this could be part of the problem—especially at altitude. This larger orifice and clamp zone in general (at least until it becomes frozen...

I think your assumption is correct: there is no choked flow. On that really cold day in Denver, I could only get vapor to flow. I didn’t even connect it to the pipe clamp adapter. I’ve only spoken to the manufacturer/tech support once to discuss high usage/different yields in Denver...

These are good questions, and I can’t answer them. The tank seems to maintain pressure throughout use. It has a dip tube (unlike normal CO2 tanks), so you keep the tank vertical and LCO2 is forced up the dip tube and out. As I get closer to the tank being empty (maybe 2-3 lbs LCO2...

Some other notes: Local supplier didn’t have any ideas/recommendations for a LCO2 flow regulator. I told him a pressure regulator wouldn’t work anyway because we still need high pressure just at a lower, adjustable flow rate. Harris makes some flow regulators—use them in various welding...

Weighed the two new 20-lb cylinders. First one was spot on 20-lbs net LCO2. Second was short by 1.7 ozs (only posted pics of 1st cylinder).

Thank you. This is great information. It’s definitely not recommended. I was extremely careful. The initial salvo I did in 140º water. A 2-gallon bucket, most of the water went all over the ground, and it didn’t do much being 7ºF. So I let the warm air passively heat it and turned the tank...

😭😭😭 I’m going to look into flow control. When I first starting doing this work, I was just happy it froze and my company didn’t cause an international incident! There’s no Blowout Preventer on this deal, so you have to be sure your work is as cool as the ice plug. Fascinating stuff! I so...