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But it would take an enormous volume of nitrogen to achieve significant positive buoyancy when the nitrogen is enclosed by much of anything. Air's mass is 28.97
by tbihl 10y ago
But it would take an enormous volume of nitrogen to achieve significant positive buoyancy when the nitrogen is enclosed by much of anything. Air's mass is 28.97g/mol, vs. 28g/mol for N2. So, based on my vague recollection of chemistry, that means you only get 1g of container/cargo/engine for every 22.4L of gas enclosed.
- pc86 10y ago> that means you only get 1g of container/cargo/engine for every 22.4L of gas enclosed. For reference, the Hindenburg carried about 200 million liters of gas. A nitrogen craft would need approximately 1.52 million liters to carry a single 150#/68kg human being, not counting the additional gas needed for the craft itself. So if you want to build a Hindenburg-size craft to carry about half a dozen people it might actually be plausible!