Nitrogen push instead of heaters(warning: big pics)
<img src="http://www.torquehorsepower.com/car/nitrogenrear.jpg" alt=" - " />
Just got these pics uploaded and thought I would share again. Its a small nitrogen bottle and regulator used to pressurise the nitrous bottle. Works great and only takes a few seconds to dial up the desired pressure. There is little pressure drop during a run and you can really hear the nitrogen squeeling as it is being pushed into the nitrous bottle as the nitrous is being used. This would not be for everyone. You have to have the nitrogen bottle filled and the regulator is about $300. I get both from work for free <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
<small>[ July 27, 2002, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: 383LQ4SS ]</small>
1) there is little or no pressure drop during a 1/4 mile run. Works great for larger shots of say 200+. I used to see up to 225 psi pressure drop during the course of a run in the winter. That translated into less hp and less consitant shot. On a dry kit pressure = HP.
2) No wait time for bottle heaters to get bottle up to pressure. Just open the nitrogen valve, dial up your desired pressure on the regulator and your set. Go make your run! Sucks waiting for your bottle heater to make pressure.
3) No drain on electrical system for heaters. With the large pressure drop of the 200 shot I used to run two heaters in the winter to get the pressure back up quickly.
The way it works: Imagine a full bottle of nitrous as a bottle of water. Its liquid when stored at the correct pressure. The nitrogen, which always remains a gas, is plumbed to the port at the top of the nitrous bottle and pushes down on the nitrous, pushing it up the pickup tube and out the bottle. As nitrous is exiting the nitrous bottle...nitrogen is constantly replacing it maintaing the pressure set with the regulator. It works very well and makes for consistant easy operation. Nitrogen is is completely inert, will not mix with the nitrous. You just have to completely purge the bottles before each refill.
<small>[ July 28, 2002, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: 383LQ4SS ]</small>
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I fill my own nitrogen bottles at work for free so it works out great. You can get them filled at a welding supply shop for about $10-15.
Again... this is overkill for a street car. The main reasons I made this and use it is beacuse
1) it was free
2) I didnt like the drain on my electrical system with the heaters, I have some serious stereo equipment as well.
3) I service it myself for free.
4) No wait time for bottle pressure to come up
5) never a problem in winter
6) no pressure drop during a run
99% of people using nitrous will not have a need for something like this. I just wanted to share the possibilities of alternate methods.
LilSS...welding regulators wont work. The operating pressure of those is very low. If you hooked them up to a 2500lb source the gauges would blow out and it wont regulate that high. It has to be an INERT GAS REGULATOR capable of regulating 3000 psi down to 0. That valve is expensive but can be bought at welding supply stores or places like McMaster or Grainger. Do not try this without the correct setup. It could cause some serious problems, like pressurizing your nitrous bottle to 2500 psi in a flash.






