Benchbox rev 2.0 - My Baby R23 Cascade
This project started of as an autocascade, after wasting alot of time trying to get it to work good I got it to work ok but was not happy. I was pretty sure I could get it to work alot better either as a blended singlestage or a small cascade.
With Benchbox rev 1 I got the blend to work really well but on the smaller loads, bigger loads temps was better than non blended but I could not get enough R23 in there and condensed to make it work really well on the bigger loads.
Since R23 does not need extreme temps to condense I was pretty sure I could add a 1/4hp to the mix, hold about -15c on the HX and have a small cascade working well.
I did not add a oilsep since I did not expect temps to be below the freezing point of the oil. It ended up colder but it runs like a dream.
Another nice thing is that its not dependant on the little high stage, the low stage is not pure R23 but a blend of R23/Propane and R402a, it actually still holds a nice load temp even with the highstage completely off.
So in the end I think this unit is unique in many ways, I love it :D
Specs:
High stage:
Electrolux 9cc 1/4hp compressor
Part of split 1.2KW condensor
R290 (Propane) charge
HX about 4.5m of 3/16" inside 3/8"
Captube
Low stage:
LG 1HP R410a Rotary
Most of 1.2KW condensor
R290/R402a/R23 charge
Captube
Cold Ice evap
The case is still being made but is 40cm x 40cm x 49cm big, nice and small.
Idles around -91c and does about -71c with 220w
Pics:
Front:
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700001.jpg
Side:
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700002.jpg
Top-side
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700003.jpg
Load testing:
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700007.jpg
Idle temp: -91c
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700010.jpg
Load 150w: -76.7c
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700004.jpg
load 175w: -75.1
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700005.jpg
Load 228w: -71.5c
http://emerald.srv2.com/~sokkiesc/Fo..._200700006.jpg