View Full Version : methanol phase change
boshi
06-05-2004, 08:50 PM
I've come up with an idea for a simple easy to build phase change. I'm not sure of the cooling potential yet, but it seems like a cool idea.
This isnt supposed to be as good as a real phase change, just better than water cooling.
A fact is, that a methanol race car will develop ice on its carburetors due to the changing of the methanol after coming out of the jets into a gas from a liquid.
I plan to simulate that by using a block similar to the RBX, of my own design which will spray the methanol and atomize it. It should then transfer heat and become a gas. Then it will run into a condensor and become a liquid again before it is then picked up by the pump, and run through the system again.
megahurtz-oc
06-05-2004, 08:56 PM
wont work unlees your heat load is like 2 watts
boshi
06-05-2004, 09:02 PM
ah, yes, I see what you mean. I need to add more detail. I would be running a much higher flow than with a water cooling setup. I would have a 40-60 PSI fuel pump, which would then run to about four or so jets similar to those in carbs.
Do you still think that that wouldnt work on a decent heat load?
Gary Lloyd
06-05-2004, 09:11 PM
The easy part is changing from liquid to vapor. That's what an expendable refrigerant (LN2, CO2, etc.) system does. The hard part is changing the vapor back to liquid so that you can reuse it. That's what a phase change system does.
boshi
06-05-2004, 09:14 PM
Originally posted by Gary Lloyd
The easy part is changing from liquid to vapor. That's what an expendable refrigerant (LN2, CO2, etc.) system does. The hard part is changing the vapor back to liquid so that you can reuse it. That's what a phase change system does.
and?
blinky
06-05-2004, 09:19 PM
i think what gary is trying to say is that without a compressor u wont be able to condense the methanol, u will need a very large condenser to condense the methanol at low pressures
Ragnarok
06-06-2004, 02:11 AM
Originally posted by boshi
and?
I suggest u start by reading some basic guides, methanol isnt gonna condense @ room temp .....
I suggest u start by reading some basic guides, methanol isnt gonna condense @ room temp .....
I suggest you do some reading on what methanol is before commenting next time.. It's simply alcohol, it's liquid at room temp:stick:
Ragnarok
06-06-2004, 04:06 AM
was thinking about methane, my bad..
but what good is methanol when it's evaporating point is like 70C??
but what good is methanol when it's evaporating point is like 70C??
This system would have to be under a slight vacuum to lower the boiling point, so it would basically be using the same principle as a heat pipe, but with a forced-convection evaporator.
I plan to simulate that by using a block similar to the RBX, of my own design which will spray the methanol and atomize it. It should then transfer heat and become a gas. Then it will run into a condensor and become a liquid again before it is then picked up by the pump, and run through the system again.
This would be droplet impingement cooling, which engages thin film vaporization. The biggest problem with this technique, is maintaining the correct coolant film thickness for optimum performance. It can have quite high heat transfer coefficients though.
It already as a name EDIFICE.
Gary Lloyd
06-06-2004, 12:10 PM
Why not just put methanol in your WC system instead of water? How is this different?
saratoga
06-06-2004, 05:29 PM
Hes thinking they're be a heatpipe style phase change to cool the CPU rather then convection to the fluid as in conventional watercooling. I don't know if it will work, I've never seen someone try to build a powered heatpipe.
Well using a thermosiphon loop in addition with a liquid circulating pump is not a new idea, I have seen it before.