sbyrne (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} sbyrne) wrote,@ 2008-07-24 18:54:00 |
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From our department's manager: Following the thefts of 5 or 6 liquid nitrogen pressure vessels from Hammersmith Campus I have bought a chain and lock so the vessel can be secured to the railing on the ramp outside.
For our liquid nitrogen deliveries, we need to bring the dewars outside to be refilled. Apparently, several of these have been stolen, presumably for their scrap metal value. These are the big, man-size dewar tanks! What the hell! The BBC has two recent reports of other liquid nitrogen dewar thefts, from Somerset and Edinburgh
Googling for "liquid nitrogen uk" produces the following dubious advice:
The first thing to know about this is that you can't buy convenient small containers of liquid nitrogen off the shelf in shops and store them at home. It doesn't work like that.
So, to get some liquid nitrogen, it's best to get some flasks and to look for places that already have huge quantities of liquid nitrogen being stored. The sorts of places that have liquid nitrogen are: hospitals, physics labs, mortuaries, strawberry freezing factories, cryonics facilities, and anywhere that's using superconducting magnets.
When you arrive at the place and ask nicely if they might spare some liquid nitrogen, your chances of being granted your request tend to be improved by:
1. Your reasons for requiring some liquid nitrogen.
2. The size of your flasks (bigger = better).
3. Your demonstrated safety-conscious knowledge.
4. Charm.
For our liquid nitrogen deliveries, we need to bring the dewars outside to be refilled. Apparently, several of these have been stolen, presumably for their scrap metal value. These are the big, man-size dewar tanks! What the hell! The BBC has two recent reports of other liquid nitrogen dewar thefts, from Somerset and Edinburgh
Googling for "liquid nitrogen uk" produces the following dubious advice:
The first thing to know about this is that you can't buy convenient small containers of liquid nitrogen off the shelf in shops and store them at home. It doesn't work like that.
So, to get some liquid nitrogen, it's best to get some flasks and to look for places that already have huge quantities of liquid nitrogen being stored. The sorts of places that have liquid nitrogen are: hospitals, physics labs, mortuaries, strawberry freezing factories, cryonics facilities, and anywhere that's using superconducting magnets.
When you arrive at the place and ask nicely if they might spare some liquid nitrogen, your chances of being granted your request tend to be improved by:
1. Your reasons for requiring some liquid nitrogen.
2. The size of your flasks (bigger = better).
3. Your demonstrated safety-conscious knowledge.
4. Charm.
