DIESEL_POWER
NGM Diesel
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 5,178
Before you read this please note that this info is geared to help the tech content on this forum.
if you dont want to play nice go elsewhere.
Nitrous basics
What is Nitrous Oxide? (or Squeeze, Juice, NOS, N20, Spray, Shot, Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide, also known as dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide, is a chemical compound with chemical formula N2O. Under room conditions, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a pleasant, slightly-sweet odor. It is commonly known as laughing gas due to the exhilarating effects of inhaling it, and because it can cause spontaneous laughter in some people; it is also known as NOS or nitrous in racing and motorsports. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic effects.
Nitrous oxide is present in the atmosphere where it acts as a powerful greenhouse gas. It is non-toxic and non-irritating in medical form but inhaling automotive grade nitrous oxide can be dangerous. Also note that when inhaled in pure form it will cause death by asphyxiation because at atmospheric temperatures and pressure, the oxygen in nitrous oxide is not available to the body.
Detailed Description
A nitrous oxide molecule is made up of 2 atoms of nitrogen and 1 atom of oxygen, giving it the chemical formula N2O. It is not to be confused with nitrogen oxide (also known as ‘NOx’) which is a poisonous gas produced by incorrect combustion. By volume nitrous contains 33% oxygen and 66% nitrogen, and by weight 36% oxygen (air is only 23.6% oxygen).
At 70° F nitrous oxide is a gas, and it takes a pressure of 760psi to compress it into a liquid (this is the form used in engines). The critical temperature is 97.7° F; at this temp the vapor pressure can no longer hold the nitrous in liquid form. When liquid nitrous is released, it will go from 760 PSI to 14.7 PSI (normal atmospheric pressure). It will then begin to boil and rapidly expand; the pressure drop will cause the temperature to decrease. It boils at minus 129 degrees F, and at 565 degrees F the molecules split into the two component gases; nitrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is then free to aid combustion, although it is non-flammable in itself, while the nitrogen acts as a damper to prevent detonation.
History
The gas was discovered by Joseph Priestley in 1772. Humphry Davy in the 1790s tested the gas on himself and some of his friends, including the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. They soon realized that nitrous oxide considerably dulled the sensation of pain, even if the inhaler were still semi-conscious. And so it came into use as an anesthetic, particularly by dentists, who do not typically have access to the services of an anesthesiologist and who may benefit from a patient who can respond to verbal commands.
Nitrous Oxide was used during World War II by Luftwaffe aircraft with the GM-1 system to boost the power output of aircraft engines. Originally meant to provide the Luftwaffe standard aircraft with superior high-altitude performance, technological considerations limited its use to extremely high altitudes. Accordingly, it was only used by specialized planes like high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, high-speed bombers and high-altitude interceptors. Thousands of German fighter and reconnaissance aircraft were equipped with the GM-1 system. The British Royal Air Force also used aircraft engines with performance enhanced by nitrous oxide. Interestingly, there was no use of nitrous oxide injection by the American military air forces other than very limited experimental use.
During the 1950s the famed stock car racer Smokey Yunick rediscovered nitrous oxide injection as one of his many schemes for winning races until discovered and outlawed by NASCAR. In the late-70s/early-80s nitrous oxide was "rediscovered" by drag racers and hot rodders.
Any questions? feel free to ask!!
Thanks
Wade
if you dont want to play nice go elsewhere.
Nitrous basics
What is Nitrous Oxide? (or Squeeze, Juice, NOS, N20, Spray, Shot, Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide, also known as dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide, is a chemical compound with chemical formula N2O. Under room conditions, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a pleasant, slightly-sweet odor. It is commonly known as laughing gas due to the exhilarating effects of inhaling it, and because it can cause spontaneous laughter in some people; it is also known as NOS or nitrous in racing and motorsports. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic effects.
Nitrous oxide is present in the atmosphere where it acts as a powerful greenhouse gas. It is non-toxic and non-irritating in medical form but inhaling automotive grade nitrous oxide can be dangerous. Also note that when inhaled in pure form it will cause death by asphyxiation because at atmospheric temperatures and pressure, the oxygen in nitrous oxide is not available to the body.
Detailed Description
A nitrous oxide molecule is made up of 2 atoms of nitrogen and 1 atom of oxygen, giving it the chemical formula N2O. It is not to be confused with nitrogen oxide (also known as ‘NOx’) which is a poisonous gas produced by incorrect combustion. By volume nitrous contains 33% oxygen and 66% nitrogen, and by weight 36% oxygen (air is only 23.6% oxygen).
At 70° F nitrous oxide is a gas, and it takes a pressure of 760psi to compress it into a liquid (this is the form used in engines). The critical temperature is 97.7° F; at this temp the vapor pressure can no longer hold the nitrous in liquid form. When liquid nitrous is released, it will go from 760 PSI to 14.7 PSI (normal atmospheric pressure). It will then begin to boil and rapidly expand; the pressure drop will cause the temperature to decrease. It boils at minus 129 degrees F, and at 565 degrees F the molecules split into the two component gases; nitrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is then free to aid combustion, although it is non-flammable in itself, while the nitrogen acts as a damper to prevent detonation.
History
The gas was discovered by Joseph Priestley in 1772. Humphry Davy in the 1790s tested the gas on himself and some of his friends, including the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. They soon realized that nitrous oxide considerably dulled the sensation of pain, even if the inhaler were still semi-conscious. And so it came into use as an anesthetic, particularly by dentists, who do not typically have access to the services of an anesthesiologist and who may benefit from a patient who can respond to verbal commands.
Nitrous Oxide was used during World War II by Luftwaffe aircraft with the GM-1 system to boost the power output of aircraft engines. Originally meant to provide the Luftwaffe standard aircraft with superior high-altitude performance, technological considerations limited its use to extremely high altitudes. Accordingly, it was only used by specialized planes like high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, high-speed bombers and high-altitude interceptors. Thousands of German fighter and reconnaissance aircraft were equipped with the GM-1 system. The British Royal Air Force also used aircraft engines with performance enhanced by nitrous oxide. Interestingly, there was no use of nitrous oxide injection by the American military air forces other than very limited experimental use.
During the 1950s the famed stock car racer Smokey Yunick rediscovered nitrous oxide injection as one of his many schemes for winning races until discovered and outlawed by NASCAR. In the late-70s/early-80s nitrous oxide was "rediscovered" by drag racers and hot rodders.
Any questions? feel free to ask!!
Thanks
Wade
