Completed first system -41.9

[Epsilon]

Ok then,

Here is the full story in english as i promised.

First of all, i would like to thank Twynn for letting me borrow his Manifold and vacuumpump :). He also provided me with some 0.026" captube. _/-\o_ _/-\o_

Dabit has been my inspiration. He is a pioneer in refridgerantion and computer cooling techniques.
Plz visit his site : www.icecoldcomputing.com

After a refill day for prometeia's some time ago, my interests went from hardware and overclocking more and more to phase-change systems. The boost from r134a to r507 was enourmous but just wasn't enough for me :D.

The original plan was to build a phase-change system for my GPU. I wanted to get rid of the 172w peltier that had to be used to reach sub zero temperatures. So i went scouraging for parts. My goal was simpel: -20c loaded to beat the 172peltier by far.

The refridgerant is R290 because that's the only gas that you can use without any licence, is easy to obtain and performs well.

Before I started, I knew that a good torch would help a lot. After reading the projects of Dabit @ www.icecoldcomputing.com, my choice was pretty easy. I went for Propane/oxygen with a refillable oxygen bottle to lower opparating costs.

total costs were:
395euro ex BTW (tax)

That's for:
oxy bottle
propane bottle
oxy and propane regulators
Grip + 3 meter twin-hose
2 torch heads (smallest one is on the bottom picture)
carrier

Refill of oxygen and propane = 22euro



Here are some pics:

300bar 5liter, filled to 200bar of course :D
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/torch1.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/torch1.jpg)

Carrier with the 5liter oxygen bottle and the 400gr propane bottle
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/torch2.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/torch2.jpg)

Handle
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/torch3.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/torch3.jpg)

Oxy and fuel knobs :D
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/torch4.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/torch4.jpg)

Oxygen opperating pressure: 200bar on the bottle (unused) and 2.5bar on the secundairy side.
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/torch5_pressure.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/torch5_pressure.jpg)

small flame (picture with flash)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/torch6_flame_flash.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/torch6_flame_flash.jpg)

Same without flash :D
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/torch7_flame_noflash.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/torch7_flame_noflash.jpg)

Ok, now the parts of the system itselve :)

Condenser (60% more surface area than prometeia condensers).
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/codenser_prom.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/codenser_prom.jpg)

picture of the shraeder and driers are here:
hier (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/shraders_driers.jpg)

Some joint picture:
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/koperverbinding2.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/koperverbinding2.JPG)

early overview:
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/thumbs/overview1.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/overview1.JPG)

:: Evap ::
Now it was time to build the evap :D

I took a 50x50x5mm plate of copper and cut it down to 50x40x5mm using a jigsaw.
Then i drilled a 9.5mm hole in it. This way i could put a 3/8" OD (9.53mm) pipe inside. With a hammer i could make it a REALLY tight fit :)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/pipe01.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/pipe01.jpg)

Close up shot (the 9.5mm hole wasn't drilled entirely through)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/pipe03.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/pipe03.jpg)

Brazing using a hand propane torch (to save oxygen)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/pipe04.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/pipe04.jpg)

Top (still darn hot :D)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/pipe05.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/pipe05.jpg)

joint closeup
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/pipe06.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/pipe06.jpg)

After some cleaning
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/pipe07.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/pipe07.jpg)

Before i began, i put a pizza in the oven. 25min later, when i cleaned everything up, the pizza was ready :).
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/pipe08.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/pipe08.jpg)

A little shot to see how small captube is (now inside a 3/8" tube)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/cap01.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/cap01.jpg)

Captube in the block.

The channels are made with a dremel and 8dremel cuttingdisks. 6mm deep, 4mm wide.
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/cap02.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/cap02.jpg)

Top strapped to the block with some wire. This way the captube could not slip out of the block.
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/block01.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/block01.jpg)

Setup to brase the block :)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/evap01.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/evap01.jpg)

again the hand torch
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/evap02.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/evap02.jpg)

Completed evap (still hot)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/evap03.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/evap03.jpg)

Side
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/evap04.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/evap04.jpg)

underside (needs some lapping :D)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/evap05.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/evap05.jpg)

overview
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/thumbs/evap06.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/evap/evap06.jpg)



To fill my system, I had to make a converter from propane to a shreader valve because they aren't available in the stores.


The hose that will donate the connecter
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop1.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop1.jpg)

Using the jigsaw
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop2.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop2.jpg)

The parts: Shraeder valve, male connector and nut
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop3.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop3.jpg)

The inside diameter of the connecter was around 4mm. The pipe of the shraeder valve ise 6mm. So some drilling was required. I did not drill entirely through to keep it nice and tidy :D
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop4.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop4.jpg)

How it will be put together
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop5.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop5.jpg)

How the connecter will be screwed on the propane bottle.
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop6.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop6.jpg)

Completed converter :D
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop7.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop7.jpg)

Joint (brazed with 40% silver rod with yellow flux)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop8.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop8.jpg)

overview
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/thumbs/verloop9.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/verloop/verloop9.jpg)

================================================== =======
Time for some Testing :D
================================================== =======

The goal has been changed. The system will never be used for the GPU. It stays a test system to see wether or not i can build a system :). The suction line will be copper tube now because i do not have any RVS hose now.

Suctionline (3/8") on the evap:
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/thumbs/suction1.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/suction1.jpg)

Captube comming out of the suction line:
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/thumbs/suction2.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/suction2.jpg)

Total assembly:
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/thumbs/suction3.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/suction3.jpg)

Finished assembly
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/thumbs/suction4.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/suction4.jpg)

Closeup of the joint:
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/thumbs/suction5.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/suction/suction5.jpg)

Pressuretesting the assembly:
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished1.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished1.jpg)

Manifold (Twynn _/-\o_ _/-\o_ )
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished2.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished2.jpg)

Brazing the drier :)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished3.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished3.jpg)

Setup to vacuum
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished4.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished4.jpg)

First vacuum
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished5.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished5.jpg)

Final vacuum
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished6.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished6.jpg)

Setup up and running :D
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished7.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished7.jpg)

-41.9c Not bad :)
http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/thumbs/finished8.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/finishing/finished8.jpg)

All pictures are clickable

Finished system:

http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/overview2.jpg (http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/overview3.jpg)

This is were the system will stay. It will be taken appart to donate the parts. Maybe i will fill the system again to see the load temps :).

Lowest temp: 43.5c insulated :)

[bh2k]

Very nice with R290 how powerful is the compressor and how much captube you using?

[Aphex_Tom_9]

looking good

especially that pizza.

[gkiing]

You're off to a great start! You might want to change that copper pipe for a 3/8" or 1/2" ID flex hose. That little compressor pulled a nice vaccum.

[Hobocrow]

You're off to a great start! You might want to change that copper pipe for a 3/8" or 1/2" ID flex hose. That little compressor pulled a nice vaccum.

I totally agree with you ... but, i'm thinking that this is a *test :toast:

[DGeNeRaT3]

Nice Work!

[Epsilon]

Yeah it is just a test :)

The vacuumpump is from Twynn.

this system will be running this week, next week i will build a new one :)

More info:

1.7m (= 5' 8") 0.026" captube (good for around 150 - 180w)
1/6HP compressor (L'unite Hermetique = tecumseh), cc i do not know because there aren't any datasheets :(.

[kayl]

that is some really nice work you have done there.
i remember you making that evap, its so cool.
nice temps and with such a small compressor too.

[Epsilon]

I found out it was undercharged :(

Will charge it again today or tomorrow :D

http://members.home.nl/epsilon/phase/overview3.jpg

for the final pic ;)

[runmc]

A shroud would give you better performance from the condenser - ;)

Very nice compact rig.:)

[Epsilon]

Yeah true about the shroud

will be one on my def system :)

But because of the undercharge, the condenser doesn't get very warm :)

But with my new rig it sure will :D
Compressor will be a MP14FB Electrolux (14cc 1/2hp r404a compressor)

[Epsilon]

Startpost updated :D

[cold_ice]

Very have a very nice brazing equipment :-)
Compact and good looking rig!
And you brazed the whole evap with the small propane torch? I guess it was very hard to get it hot enough.

[The Byter]

nice work - cool it !

[masterofpuppets]

Very nice for your first system. Keep it up!

[Tonic]

And don't forget to add another 12cm fan

I see, typically copper tube is a sunction line, how it's comfortable for you?

[Epsilon]

Very have a very nice brazing equipment :-)
Compact and good looking rig!
And you brazed the whole evap with the small propane torch? I guess it was very hard to get it hot enough.
No i used the big torch head on the oxy/propane torch as main heating ;). the propane torch was just to maintain a good temperature and save oxygen (which is the most expensive).


And don't forget to add another 12cm fan

I see, typically copper tube is a sunction line, how it's comfortable for you?
The system will not be used as a computer cooler. It is just a learning project.