1y ago

TIL some cities (like NYC) pump nitrogen into their phone lines to keep water out.

Why Is There Liquid Nitrogen On The Street Corner?

11 comments

That sounds expensive as hell.
- Nitrogen makes up most of the atmosphere and is a relatively cheap gas to capture and compress.
  
  Also seems like it's only during construction and repair. They're not constantly pressurized. (Or rather, Nitrogen is used to sypplement)
  Not entirely clear but I think they mean they flush the sewers with the nitrogen, not actually pressurize them with the nitrogen?
  The cables have a protective sheath covering them, but during construction and repairs, the steam build up in some of the sewers can be too much for them — so they use liquid nitrogen expanding into gas to supplement the pressurized cables in order to keep the them dry.
  Think a nitrogen generator is a few thousand?
sounds recent so not surprised we did not know. Nice there is another reason for fiber and maybe one that would save longterm cost so incentivize isps to replace with fiber.
- Would fibre reduce the need for pressurisation?
  
  Yes, glass doesn't corrode when exposed to moisture.
  
  yeah like ein fuck um mrmrmrm said
I would always see those canisters around the city and wondered what they were. TIL.
Hashtag N two.

11 comments