X-Message-Number: 2024
From: "Mark B. Kaminsky" <fasfax!mbk>
Subject: CRYONICS Economy!
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 93 12:41:43 EST

> Message: #2018 - Economy!
> Date: Wed, 24 Mar 93 08:39:27 CST
> From: Brian Wowk <>
> 
> five.  Storage cost per patient is now $200 per year.  Because Bigfoot 
> storage is scalable (you buy more as you need them) and this storage 
> isn't scalable (operating costs are constant and high from day one) the 
> comparison can be deceptive.  Nonetheless I believe we still compare 
> well (breaking even at only 30 Cold Room patients).

Now that you've quelled most of my fears about a wall breach (but see below),
I'm starting to warm to the above idea.  Wouldn't the Cold Room be somewhat
scalable?  I assume that this Cold Room would, for security and maintenance
reasons, be inside a large room in Alcor's mythical new building (built of
concrete and steel with the latest fire controls so the foam won't melt).
Maybe the Cold Room could be expanded by starting it out rectangular with
one movable wall and just adding foam blocks as needed until we have the
5x5 meter cube.

  Top View
   ----             ----xxxxxx
  |    |           |          |
5 |    |           |          |
m |    |   --->    |          |
  |    |           |          |
  |    |           |          |
   ----             ----xxxxxx
   2 m                 5 m

   1995                2005

where "x" are new blocks foam added to the walls (and ceiling and floor
- not shown).   If that's too messy, maybe we can close off part of the
room with an inner foam wall.

My existing concern about room breach is that an earthquake could cause
the building's roof to collapse and fall on the Cold Room.  I realize
that this would be bad news for a dewar setup too (even if they were
secured with steel cables to prevent dominoes), but not all dewars
might fail and the patients start out colder a thus take longer to thaw.
How long would it take each of three heads to reach 0C (with the room air
at room temp), one starts at -196C in a vacuum failed dewar (still has LN2),
another at -196C in a breached dewar (no LN2) and the last at -130C?
Perhaps the room could be surrounded with strong metal tubing (like a
geodesic dome) which in turn could be used to support the hoist.  If
nothing else it would sure look impressive to visitors.  Then again,
maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Mark B. Kaminsky, mbk%
Fasfax Corporation, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA

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