Ok, to thwart any flaming: my research thus far is minimal, and I know only some principles behind phase change cooling. I am posting this thread to get input on my plans, and the answers can help to serve as a refrence to other newbie users like myself.
If I understand correctly, the basic components are:
1) compressor
2) condensor (high pressure side, aka heat exchanger)
3) condenser fan
4) regulator valve
5) evaporator core (low pressure side, aka heat exchanger)
did I miss anything?
and again, as I understand it, the compressor pumps a gas (freon I am assuming works best, although I have heard of CO2) from the low pressure side (heat exchanger) into the high pressure side (condenser aka radiator). here is where it might confuse someone, the act of compressing a gas actually heats the gas, but that is the desired effect. once the gas is compressed, it is then cooled to (as near as possible) room temperature. At this point the compressed gas is at near room temperature, so when it is released into the heat exchanger the temperature drops (because it is no longer compressed.) Because the high pressure gas is cooled to near room temperature, the low pressure gas is below room temperature.
I want to start off simple (and cheap) so I plan on building a phase cooler out of an old air conditioner.
basicly I intend to remove the evaporator core and fit the hoses with connectors for a water block. for a matter of space, I would remove the fan and replace it with something like an automotive electric 12v radiator fan. I could route the 12v power through the a/c fan control. I am also thinking of soldering the origional a/c thermistat to the water block.
alternatively, I was thinking of splicing the water block in between the evaporator and the compressor, and using the origional a/c function to cool the rest of the case & components (to avoid condensation)
any thoughts? good / bad idea? you are going to report me to the epa?
If I understand correctly, the basic components are:
1) compressor
2) condensor (high pressure side, aka heat exchanger)
3) condenser fan
4) regulator valve
5) evaporator core (low pressure side, aka heat exchanger)
did I miss anything?
and again, as I understand it, the compressor pumps a gas (freon I am assuming works best, although I have heard of CO2) from the low pressure side (heat exchanger) into the high pressure side (condenser aka radiator). here is where it might confuse someone, the act of compressing a gas actually heats the gas, but that is the desired effect. once the gas is compressed, it is then cooled to (as near as possible) room temperature. At this point the compressed gas is at near room temperature, so when it is released into the heat exchanger the temperature drops (because it is no longer compressed.) Because the high pressure gas is cooled to near room temperature, the low pressure gas is below room temperature.
I want to start off simple (and cheap) so I plan on building a phase cooler out of an old air conditioner.
basicly I intend to remove the evaporator core and fit the hoses with connectors for a water block. for a matter of space, I would remove the fan and replace it with something like an automotive electric 12v radiator fan. I could route the 12v power through the a/c fan control. I am also thinking of soldering the origional a/c thermistat to the water block.
alternatively, I was thinking of splicing the water block in between the evaporator and the compressor, and using the origional a/c function to cool the rest of the case & components (to avoid condensation)
any thoughts? good / bad idea? you are going to report me to the epa?