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Re: Liquid-Dielectric Capacitor

At 09:02 AM 2/26/96 +0700, Wesley Brzozowski wrote:

>Tim Chandler <tchand-at-slip-dot-net> wrote: 
>> so I could drain the liquid dielectric with ease.  I installed the aluminum 
>> plates, and added the NH4 (Ammonia) liquid-dielectric (approx. 98.8%
>purity). 
>> After I double checked all of the plates and connections.  I then used a  
>
>Your work in this area sounds great and I'm really interested in hearing 
>about what you learn from it. I do have a question, though. Exactly what 
>is the NH4 liquid dielectric you're using. Is it a trade name? Since  
>ammonia is NH3 and is a gas, I guess that's not what you're using.  

Actually you are correct the liquid dielectric used was actually NH4 and H2O
with a related purity of 98.8%, which some call ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH).  I
have and still do use "ammonia" as a generic term for any nitrogen-hydrogen
combination, I is incorrect, but a habit I picked up in college.  But you bring 
an interesting point to mind which I hadn't really considered.

This solution was obtained by myself through work.  We needed more space in
which to conduct our present research and the only lab that was close enough
and available was an biological lab used to study the nitrogen cycle (atleast
as far as I can figure).  We were given permission to use the lab, but we were
told we had to clean it up our selves because they did not want the janitorial
staff in there (they have had problems with the janitors breaking/messing with
the equipment).  We cleaned it up threw away the junk and sent the large/more
expensive eqiupment to a local university, but the university did not what
all the chemicals and glassware, which had been sitting for about 7 years now.
We were told to throw them away (so to speak), so I asked if I could take some
of it.  I ended up with some much needed glassware, a spectrometer, and a bunch
of chemicals.  Some of these chemicals, including the NH4 I used, were not 
labeled at all properly so I do not know exactly what they were used for or
the solution specifications.  All the container had on it was a 6 digit number,
 NH4, and the words "purity 98.8%/DI".  Now that I think about it this solution
might be something different than the substance I had originally thought it.
I will see what information I can dig up on the 6 digit number at work.

Will keep you posted...

>By the way, if you're planning to use ammonium salts, it would be wise 
>to avoid ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). If the capacitor were to get  
>connected to a DC supply, you could electrolytically produce some 
>ammonium chlorate, which becomes explosively unstable at temperatures 
>not too far above room temp. 
>
>Wes B. 

No way not using annomium salts.  I had to many bad experiences with those salts
in college.  I do not like them, most are dangerous, and make me feel funny...:)

Thanks,

Tim


o------------------------------------oo---------------------------------o
| Timothy A. Chandler                ||   M.S.Physics/B.S.Chemistry     |
o------------------------------------oo---------------------------------o
| NASA-Langley Research Center       ||   George Mason University       |
| Department of Energy               ||   Department of Physics         |
| FRT/Alpha - NASALaRC/DOE JRD/OPM   ||   Department of Chemistry       |
| CHOCT FR Designation #82749156/MG09||   OPC-EFC                       |
o------------------------------------oo---------------------------------o
|                 Private Email Address:  tchand-at-slip-dot-net               |
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