Eli's r290 Chiller!

[eligray]

Hey guys, this has been a long and fun project that's taught me unbelievable amounts. I plan to use this unit to keep my GPU (4850) and NB (on my new x48 RE) at around -30c loaded.

A huge thanks goes out to Teyber and Boshuter for giving me parts and tools that went into this project, and for giving me advice on how to fix issues that I ran into. I spent about $700 on this project, but most of that money went into reusable tools and supplies.

This system's main components are:
1/2 HP Rotary Compressor (Thanks Teyber!)
Unknown Steel Condenser (Thanks Teyber!)
Custom Shroud from Drewmeister
Four 120mm 2200RPM 12v Fans
Homemade Receiver
Filter/Drier
Sight Glass
Sporlan TXV (Thermal Expansion Valve) (Thanks Teyber!)
SLHX (Suction Line Heat Exchanger) (Thanks Teyber!)

Some Tools I Acquired For This Project:
Oxy/MAPP Torch (Thanks Boshuter!)
Robinair Vacuum Pump
Manifold
Propane Tank & Homemade Adapter to Schrader Fitting

It's been great fun building this chiller, and I've learned an unbelievable amount while building it! I can't wait to put it to good use on my system while chasing WRs and benching with LN2.

I just uploaded a video of it functioning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGjxXTJRB_M

Sorry that I'm so inarticulate and generally stupid in the video lol

All that's left to do is buy a suitable pump and two all-metal waterblocks.

Cheers
Eli

[tiborrr]

Good chiller, i hope you test it with load soon!
P.S.: Nice video too!

[teyber]

butsechs! that pipework is the best ive ever seen on a first build

After our msn chat i remembered i had a evap that i bodged the top a little, just cosmetic. would be a sweet cpu evap i think.

Whats your next project? after this one is finished?

cheers

[WVUEcoCarTech]

Nice job. Wish I had the time and space to learn to do this. I've really been thinking about one for a while now

[eligray]

Thanks man

[WVUEcoCarTech]

How small do you think you could compact this system? And do you think you could get it to run on 12V? What kind of current do those things draw?

[eligray]

it couldn't get too much smaller, other than the depth of the thing.

No way it could run on 12v. These things are monsters. Around 750W power draw.

[WVUEcoCarTech]

^what is that in terms of current??

[eligray]

lol... well first off they make compressors for a MINIMUM of 120v, AC.

With 12v, an 850W power draw would be 71 amps.

Just plug the freaking thing into your wall, don't mess with your PC's wiring

[WVUEcoCarTech]

lol... well first off they make compressors for a MINIMUM of 120v, AC.

With 12v, an 850W power draw would be 71 amps.

Just plug the freaking thing into your wall, don't mess with your PC's wiring

I know what you're thinking, but no. I was going for a portable system (don't ask why, just assume 12v ). Lets assume a system had about a 40amp draw, what kind of cooling potential (temperatures) do you think could be had? Without load. Any idea/ballpark?