Firing up a charcoal BBQ with liquid oxygen

2009-08-23

[public] 88.1K views, 717 likes, 18.0 dislikes audio only

I am pouring 1.5 liters of liquid oxygen on a bunch of smoldering charcoal briquettes. The oxygen rapidly turns to gas and accelerates the rate of combustion at the surface of the briquettes. Some of the charcoal fractures and shoots off tiny pieces that burn with a bright light.

I made the liquid oxygen by passing gaseous oxygen through a copper tube that was submerged in liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen is colder than the boiling point of oxygen, so it causes the oxygen to condense and be ejected as a liquid from the other end of the tube. Liquid nitrogen can be bought at welding supply stores, however I made a batch myself with a cryocooler. See here for more info: http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2008/08/diy-liquid-nitrogen-generator.html

http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/lighting-bbq-with-liquid-oxygen.html