Alternatives to water as a coolant?

[wmandra]

Hey all, I was just bored and started googling "heat transfer fluids" and got a ton of results, which made me curious, Are any of the synthetic industrial type fluids better for liquid cooling rather than water?? Of course, I realize that even if one of these fluids is better it would most likely cost way too much to warrent putting it into a PCs cooling loop, but it still makes you wonder if water is the best liguid for heat transfer then why do these companies offer up synthetics??

Bill

[moosturdsoed25]

you can't get better than water, but it is not always best because it can corrode your system and facilitate the growth of algae

[Mini]

Perhaps quicksilver??? But that would weigh to much and probably destroy the pump...

But i think there is 1... There must be... But then you would probably have to cool it down with more air... And it would cost more???

But it cant be true that water is the best stuff???

[nikhsub1]

But it cant be true that water is the best stuff???

Why not? It is the best liquid in terms of thermal transfer and viscosity. Mercury has better thermal properties but is poisonous. NASA may have something better, but good old water is excellent.

[moosturdsoed25]

yup, thx nikhsub1 for explaining, im tired right now, but I can agree al the way. Water does not have to be fancy and expensive to perform well lol

[Liquid3D]

This is an excellent question however H20's bonding properties are what make it so unique. Water molecules have an very high Specific heat Capacity (read the article) as it takes 4200J to heat 1-litre of water 1-degree centigrade. (J = Joule).

Almost a year ago I mentioned Fluorinert FC-40 which has a boiling point of 155C, and pour point (freezing) of -57C, make it an ideal thermal transfer liquid. However, a liquid with such malleable thermal properties, and dialectric properties (safe for submergence of electrically conductive materials), doesn't necessarily mean it's latent heat properties are appropriate. Since were NOT discussing phase change this may not be problematic, but can we find a liquid with the bonding properties of H20, with better latent heat, and safe for common waterpumps?

Could we use charged water?

[saratoga]

This is an excellent question however H20's bonding properties are what make it so unique. Water molecules have an very high Specific heat Capacity (read the article) as it takes 4200J to heat 1-litre of water 1-degree centigrade. (J = Joule).

Almost a year ago I mentioned Fluorinert FC-40 which has a boiling point of 155C, and pour point (freezing) of -57C, make it an ideal thermal transfer liquid. However, a liquid with such malleable thermal properties, and dialectric properties (safe for submergence of electrically conductive materials), doesn't necessarily mean it's latent heat properties are appropriate. Since were NOT discussing phase change this may not be problematic, but can we find a liquid with the bonding properties of H20, with better latent heat, and safe for common waterpumps?

Could we use charged water?

Actually specific heat capacity you mentioned is per gram. Water's heat capacity is nothing short of extraordinary given its other properties. Theres really nothing that can beat it on performance. Let alone beat it on performance, toxcity and cost.

As for electrically chargeing water, that won't really do anything. The molecules themselves are covelent so they don't really have any charge to them, except the vanderwaal forces induced by the exposed protons on the H atoms.

[MaxxxRacer]

vanderwall.. I remember that from HS chem class.... lol.

But to beat a dead horse, water is the best thing that we can get our hands on that is safe. Like nick said NASA prolly does have something better but dont those cunning chaps always have something up their sleeves.

[Liquid3D]

Actually specific heat capacity you mentioned is per gram. Water's heat capacity is nothing short of extraordinary given its other properties. Theres really nothing that can beat it on performance. Let alone beat it on performance, toxcity and cost.

As for electrically chargeing water, that won't really do anything. The molecules themselves are covelent so they don't really have any charge to them, except the vanderwaal forces induced by the exposed protons on the H atoms.

Actually 1 calorie = 4.186 Joules 4-Joules is the amount of energy needed to heat one gram of water by 1C.

I said 4200-Joules (4200J) is the amount of energy required to heat 1-litre of water by 1C.

[eva2000]

fluidXP ?

[saratoga]

Actually 1 calorie = 4.186 Joules 4-Joules is the amount of energy needed to heat one gram of water by 1C.

I said 4200-Joules (4200J) is the amount of energy required to heat 1-litre of water by 1C.

Sorry, I misread. You were correct.

[_Eduard_]

what about using some kind of very good heat conducting gass? Or does that not exist?

[Smurfy]

Gases will never conduct heat as well as a liquid, the molecules are 2 far apart and so do not transfer heat as effectilvy as liquid or solid

Thats why Watercooling is a step up from Air cooling

[MaxxxRacer]

hehe... the basics of watercooling right there...

[Disposibleteen]

i thought denatured alcohol was the best, maybe im wrong, i know it has excellent heat condudting properties but not very viscous

[saratoga]

i thought denatured alcohol was the best, maybe im wrong, i know it has excellent heat condudting properties but not very viscous

Alcohol is very similar chemically to water. Thats why they both dissolve each other, why they have simlilar boiling points, why types won't kill you. Theres not a lot of difference between them, so I doubt you'd notice. Water is probably a little bit better though since it has 1.5x the heat capacity IIRC.

[mdzcpa]

For our purposes water is generally considered the best. Add a touch of water wetter for lubrication and anti life properties and your all set. Any other fluid isn't worth the hassle.

[Disposibleteen]

does water wetter add to the conductivity of the water? ( im a newb to water cooling and im worried about spills) i know that pure distilled water will not conduct electricity but do i need to seal my motherboard with anything, and if so what??

[MaxxxRacer]

water wetter makes the water much more conductive. Water wetter by itself is about 10 time more conductive than water. My number is not exact, but its really a big difference.

Seal your motherboard? unless your running a pelt then there will be no condensation and you wont have to seal it. Just make sure ur water cooling doesnt leak...

[mdzcpa]

Conductivity of the coolant is 100% irrelevant. Even if you begin with distilled water, the minute it is introduced into the cooling system, it picks up conductivity through contact with all the metals within the system.

The only reason to use water wetter is that it adds lubrication (for the pump and seals) and anti life properties. It adds ZERO cooling capability. Many folks beleive that the improved cooling that comes with adding water wetter in automotive applications is the same in our computer systems...but its not even close. All water wetter does is relieve water tension. And water tension causes micro boil points within the cooling system in auto applications. But, since your computer system never gets hot enough, micro boiling points are not an issue, and therefore, WW does nothing to aid cooling.

Just fyi.

[Disposibleteen]

ok but it will extend the life of my pumps and will prevent algea right??

[mdzcpa]

Yes. And it doesn't reduce the thermal cooling properties of water as much as anti freeze does.

Your best coolant solution:

90% distilled water (provides best thermal properties)
5% water wetter (lubrication, anti life, improved viscosity)
5% automotive grade anti freeze (anti life, anti corrossion)

I've tested probably over 20 different mixes of various coolants, and the above worked just as good as, if not better than, anything else.

[Disposibleteen]

ok thanks, i have all of the parts for my first setup in the mail so right now im just trying to learn the ways, thanks for all of your help guys!

[MaxxxRacer]

i have found that zerex works extremely well. From some tests done it doesnt hurt temps as much as ww does.. But all the water additives hurt temps... but not by much...

[Disposibleteen]

gotcha, gotta find the right mix for performance and functionality...