I own a couple of espresso cafes in my city and business is good and
turnover is brisk.


We have always used a great amount of whipped cream - on drinks and
served with deserts. I started out using the conventional disposable
cannisters of whipped cream, and found them expensive on a per serving
basis.


So, always on he lookout for cost-cutting measures, opted to buy a set
of iSi cream dispensers - a very good investment ... as they produce a
thicker higher quality cream product, and also allow for addition of
flavouring to my base cream mix ... very nice!


The downside of these cream dispensers, is that I seem to go through a
high volume of N20 (notrous oxide) bullets/charges./cartridges ...
which are used to add a pressure base to the dispenser, turning liquid
cream (which is added to the dispenser) into a 'whipped' final form
(which comes out of the dispenser's nozzle).


However, while a cheaper option than the disposable whipped cream
cannisters, the number of N20 bullets/charges./cartridges that I go
through is alarmingly high.


And that is where I decided to look for a bigger and cheaper N20 supply
alternative.


I visited an industrial gas operation that imports tanks of N20 used
for the midical market - 5 feet high, and can store some 26 kg of N20
product - quite the volume alternative compared to a single N20
bullet/charge/cartridge that holds a mere 8 grammes of N20 product.


I need no license or permit to buy the product, and the cost per tank
comes in at USD$175, and a rental of USD$25/month for the 5 foot
clylinder - i.e. I am buying the N20 but not the cylinder, I have to
rent it. Still seems a fair deal ... especially since one single N20
bullet/charge/cartridge will cost me close to USD$1 including freight,
etc...


Doing some arithmetic .... from 1 large cylinder @ 26kg (26,000
grammes) I should be able to get 3,250 small N20
bullet/charge/cartridge servings of gas (26,000 / 8 grammes) .... quite
the saving on a dollar to dollar basis. And even allowing for some
additional wasteage from using the larger cylinder, loss of
pressurisation, etc.... the economies of scale are still very prevalent
in my mind.


So ... how to get the N20 from the large cylinder into the cream
dispenser?


Well, took one of my dispensers to their factory and they can supply me
with a regulator and the hosing/pipes needed to connect the big N20
cylinder to my dispenser ... simply turn the 'tap' on the cylinder and
the N20 should flow directly into the cannister.


Now this is where it gets a little grey ...


How do I gauge how much N20 to put into my dispenser?


Well, my dispenser has a volume of 1litre, and I add two small N20
bullets/charges/cartridges for a 'full load' of liquid cream base ...
so I need 16 grammes of N20.


While I can't possible measure how much N20 I am exactly filling into
every individual cream dispenser, surely there must be a pressure
release mechanism in the dispenser that releases some N20 gas when the
pressure in the dispenser goes above the optimum limit?


I am hoping so.


I already emailed the manufacturer of my dispensers (iSi) asking about
the pressure release function - NOT stating that I intend to use a
large cylinder to re-charge my dispensers ... and will post their reply
along with my test results once I get my large cylinder and hose
mechanism sorted out.


I just thought I might invite some comments about my idea and perhaps
shed a little light on other potential (more economical) gas-refilling
options out there.


Thanks for your time everyone!


Regards,

PaullyP

PaullyP wrote:
>
> I own a couple of espresso cafes in my city and business is good and
> turnover is brisk.
>
> We have always used a great amount of whipped cream - on drinks and
> served with deserts. I started out using the conventional disposable
> cannisters of whipped cream, and found them expensive on a per serving
> basis.
>
> So, always on he lookout for cost-cutting measures, opted to buy a set
> of iSi cream dispensers - a very good investment ... as they produce a
> thicker higher quality cream product, and also allow for addition of
> flavouring to my base cream mix ... very nice!
>
> The downside of these cream dispensers, is that I seem to go through a
> high volume of N20 (notrous oxide) bullets/charges./cartridges ...
> which are used to add a pressure base to the dispenser, turning liquid
> cream (which is added to the dispenser) into a 'whipped' final form
> (which comes out of the dispenser's nozzle).
>
> However, while a cheaper option than the disposable whipped cream
> cannisters, the number of N20 bullets/charges./cartridges that I go
> through is alarmingly high.
>
> And that is where I decided to look for a bigger and cheaper N20 supply
> alternative.
>
> I visited an industrial gas operation that imports tanks of N20 used
> for the midical market - 5 feet high, and can store some 26 kg of N20
> product - quite the volume alternative compared to a single N20
> bullet/charge/cartridge that holds a mere 8 grammes of N20 product.
>
> I need no license or permit to buy the product, and the cost per tank
> comes in at USD$175, and a rental of USD$25/month for the 5 foot
> clylinder - i.e. I am buying the N20 but not the cylinder, I have to
> rent it. Still seems a fair deal ... especially since one single N20
> bullet/charge/cartridge will cost me close to USD$1 including freight,
> etc...
>
> Doing some arithmetic .... from 1 large cylinder @ 26kg (26,000
> grammes) I should be able to get 3,250 small N20
> bullet/charge/cartridge servings of gas (26,000 / 8 grammes) .... quite
> the saving on a dollar to dollar basis. And even allowing for some
> additional wasteage from using the larger cylinder, loss of
> pressurisation, etc.... the economies of scale are still very prevalent
> in my mind.
>
> So ... how to get the N20 from the large cylinder into the cream
> dispenser?
>
> Well, took one of my dispensers to their factory and they can supply me
> with a regulator and the hosing/pipes needed to connect the big N20
> cylinder to my dispenser ... simply turn the 'tap' on the cylinder and
> the N20 should flow directly into the cannister.
>
> Now this is where it gets a little grey ...
>
> How do I gauge how much N20 to put into my dispenser?
>
> Well, my dispenser has a volume of 1litre, and I add two small N20
> bullets/charges/cartridges for a 'full load' of liquid cream base ...
> so I need 16 grammes of N20.
>
> While I can't possible measure how much N20 I am exactly filling into
> every individual cream dispenser, surely there must be a pressure
> release mechanism in the dispenser that releases some N20 gas when the
> pressure in the dispenser goes above the optimum limit?
>
> I am hoping so.
>
> I already emailed the manufacturer of my dispensers (iSi) asking about
> the pressure release function - NOT stating that I intend to use a
> large cylinder to re-charge my dispensers ... and will post their reply
> along with my test results once I get my large cylinder and hose
> mechanism sorted out.
>
> I just thought I might invite some comments about my idea and perhaps
> shed a little light on other potential (more economical) gas-refilling
> options out there.
>
> Thanks for your time everyone!
>
> Regards,
>
> PaullyP

If you've got the regulator on the large N2O tank set properly, it won't
be possible to over pressurize the dispenser.

As for volume, what you really need to do if figure out what the
ultimate N2O pressure is inside one of the dispensers when it has been
properly filled and charged with the disposable cartridge. This is not
the same as the starting pressure in the disposable cartridge.

If you set the regulator on your big tank to this pressure the flow
should stop at the correct point. Put a flow meter on the big tank after
the regulator so you have a visual indication of the N2O flow and a
suitable valve after that. Connect the dispenser with whatever adapter
is required then turn on the valve and wait for the flow to stop. Close
the valve and disconnect the dispenser and it should be properly charged
just like if you had used the disposable cartridge.

Pete C.

Hi Pete C,

Many thanks for your helpful feedback.

I have contacted iSi (manufacturer of my dispensers) and asked about
the psi pressure in a typical dispenser when properly charged from the
standard N20 charges.

>From other feedback in Google Groups, ppl seem to indicate that this
should be between 30-50 psi.

And your idea of a " flow meter on the big tank after the regulator so
you have a visual indication of the N2O flow and a suitable valve after
that" is a good one - I will ask the industrial gas company I am seeing
about this too.

Well, I should have something tangible to work with ... err, test ...
in the next week or so!

Will post results once they're in!

Thanks again.

Regards,

Paullyp

If you have teens be sure to be careful. Nitrous is one of the all
time greatest highs. Very smooth and soothing and no you don't giggle
with laughing gas.

How do I know? Let's just say the 70s were great fun. I think. Or
what i can remember anyway.
------------
There are no atheists in foxholes
or in Fenway Park in an extra inning
game.
____

Cape Cod Bob

Delete the two "spam"s for email

http://stores.ebay.com/Westwin-Food-Equipment

We sell Cream Dispensers that save you 30% compared to portion packs

Hmmm ... not sure how I can prevent any 'unauthorised' use of the gas -
any notice is more likely to trigger interest than prevent it!

Perhaps might be a good catalyst for a better working environment? lol

On a more serious note - yes, I have to make sure the staff don't
supplement their meals with the stuff.

Thanks again.

Are you referring to the Little Squirt Cream Dispenser Model TLS-1000?

How eaxactly does it work? How is pressure achieved? Where does the N20
come in? If at all?

Thanks.

Yes the TLS-1000 is in the store. You just press the button small
medium or large cream and out comes the cream. We also carry larger
milk dispensers by silverking.