Below Ambient L/C Cooling!

TechiGamer

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HI!

I have always really appreciated how people share there ideas on projects so that I could learn from them ,and that is why I would like to share my current project.

So, as the title suggests, I am working on a project to harness Calgary's harsh weather to liquid cool my i5-4670k,. To my advantage, there is a cut out hole that the cable provider accidentally cut out, which is exactly behind my computer which can provide a exit and entry for the pipes into my cold garage. All I would need to do Is drill 2 holes through which the pipes and fan wire could fit across.
Of course, the usual problem comes up about condensation forming on the pipes. The way I thought I could combat this is by purchasing 9/16 in. Inner diameter O-rings with 1/8 in. section diameter and evenly spacing those across my 3/8 x 5/8 XSPC tubing. From there I would buy clear 7/8 in (Inner diameter) Vinyl tubing from Canadian tire that I could pull onto those O'rings. This would effectively insulate the tube while not ruining the aesthetics because the O'rings would provide excellent and precise spacers that would keep the outer tube from touching the one carrying the fluid while trapping the air in between which obviously provide really good insulation. To prevent the air from moving I would obviously seal the ends for best results. If I ever want to put back my rad onto my computer, I thought I could just use disconnects at the end of my current pipes so that I have the original length if I want to put back my rad while also providing the opportunity to do maintenance due to its easy connection/disconnection function.
My L/C specs are : EX360 Rad, XSPC reservoir with D5 Vario pump, 1150 raystorm waterblock ,and 6 fans in push,pull configuration.
What I am wondering is that will a single D5 Vario pump be enough to circulate the water at a decent speed? I only need to travel an extra 4 feet out and 4 feet in?

Please post your thoughts and suggestions. :)
 
Solution
the main problem is freezing. if the liquid freezes, you will get near no cooling and will probably ruin your pump. another problem with below ambient cooling is condensation (not on the pipes, but on the coldplate of the cpu block and tubing around your case (think of a cold glass of water, same applies for radiator, tubing, and cpu block)

so while it's a great idea, there is generally a lot more risk than it is worth, not to mention the switch that would be needed on any +20 day during the summer

that extra 4 feet should not require a more powerful pump, as that d5 is already a good little unit as far as your actual question goes
the main problem is freezing. if the liquid freezes, you will get near no cooling and will probably ruin your pump. another problem with below ambient cooling is condensation (not on the pipes, but on the coldplate of the cpu block and tubing around your case (think of a cold glass of water, same applies for radiator, tubing, and cpu block)

so while it's a great idea, there is generally a lot more risk than it is worth, not to mention the switch that would be needed on any +20 day during the summer

that extra 4 feet should not require a more powerful pump, as that d5 is already a good little unit as far as your actual question goes
 
Solution

TechiGamer

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Thanks for the reply and sharing your insight. I actually thought of all of that! I will just put anti-freeze in the liquid to prevent it from freezing. I have heard of the problem of the cold plate but I will just insulate it with some foam insulation around my waterblock and should work. Radiator will not be a problem as that is outside. Even if the water is warm it is not going to be that warm to have an impact on the radiator to form condensation. The tube in the casing if going to follow the same idea with O-rings and the bigger tube and should definitely work.

I'm not sure what you mean about the "switch". But in the summer the garage is cooler than my house because of its position so either way I am going to be getting cooler temps whether it is in the summer or in the winter.

Either way calgary is a Very dry place and looking at my meter, I have 15% humidity in my room ATM. Of course it varies but with the tubing system and with insulation I am pretty confident that it is going to work.
I always could put some silica gel in my case that would absorb humidity.

 

TechiGamer

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Oh ok I see what you are saying! Yes I am currently investigating that!
 

TechiGamer

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Speaking of the anti freeze.... do you know of any that would do the job without damaging anything?
 
Honestly, i don't. And considering the risk (as probably not many people have done this, and so little documentation would be found) you'd almost have to contact each antifreeze manufacturer directly in order to ask what metals, plastics and rubbers antifreeze could damage, as WELL as the manufacturers of each part to see what type of metal, plastic or rubber that they are.

maybe look up antifreeze alternatives, (other liquids that don't react with other parts and would not freeze (mineral oil would be one possibility, but you would need an incredibly strong pump)
 

toolmaker_03

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I use antifreeze in my system, and I am currently building a below freezing system with the use of TEC's to cool the water, but I have built a vacuum chamber for my case to fit inside of. That way after I have vacuumed all of the air out of the chamber, there is nothing left to condensate on my water blocks or tubing. This approach works well but the cost to performance ratio is not efficient. This is for fun only, and do not recommend it for anyone, the cost that I have invested up to this point is insane.

https://imageshack.com/i/nq12xcj

https://imageshack.com/i/masxfbj

No pics of the vacuum system yet, in fact you have the first spoiler on this setup that I have designed, for below ambient cooling.
 

TechiGamer

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That sounds pretty awesome :D So what is the coolant you are using in your system... the main thing I have found with Anti freeze is that it harms acrylic which is my reservoir. I have tried contacting XSPC if they recommend anything ,but they just say "don't do it" lol ATM the pre-mixed coolant is looking pretty good with everything mixed in at the proper amounts lol ,but I still want to keep my distilled setup.
 

TechiGamer

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What I meant to ask is what anti freeze do you use.... not "what coolant you use" in the other reply

Do you think Glycerin would be good?
 

TechiGamer

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Ok. So what Anti-freeze would you recommend for my setup that would have lowest possible viscosity, not damage any of my parts, and one that has a very low freezing point ( around -30 C ) and best possible thermal conductivity?
 

toolmaker_03

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I do not know all of the answers to your questions as I have only gotten my system water temp down to 2C, at this point I would like to point out that a CPU will not boot up if it is under or there are below freezing conditions at start up. I am not saying that the water going to the CPU can't be below freezing while it is running, but the CPU itself will not run if it is cooled to a point, that its idol temp becomes lower than 0C, it will seize up, so to speak.
I use a 80/20 mix I buy 50/50 antifreeze and add a little distilled water to the mix and at the end I put a little wetter water in loop and I am all done for a year.
again I build my loops to withstand this chemical, so I do not buy acrylic, but actal is fine to use, and all copper blocks are best for this kind of build.



 

TechiGamer

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Hmmm... well I am not really sure where you got that it will not boot up below 0° C because I contacted Intel support prior to this and they said that it should boot up till' around -40° C. But of course it would have a hard time at that temp...but they said that around -15° it should work completely normally and should boot up as regular :)

About the antifreeze...do you think glycerin would work?
 
Considering people using L2N cooling get their temps WAY below 0c, i would say that there is probably some sort of setting that needs to be changed for those types of temps, or you need a motherboard that has a temperature probe and software that reads below zero temperatures
 

TechiGamer

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Ya exactly that is what I was thinking too... because liquid nitrogen is extremely cold I think around -196 C. So by all means it should work normally at -15 C if it able to withstand that cold from LN and still be able to work.
 

TechiGamer

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Alright, I have everything for the project (except I don't know which antifreeze to use). So this weekend I will begin building the loop. If anyone is interested, just let me know and I can post some pics.
I think I will be purchasing the Intel performance plan for my 4670k since it covers everything that could happen ,and as the Intel guy said : "Even if a bear sneaks into your house and eats your CPU, we will still replace it" so that will keep me from worrying about it getting too cold and destroying my CPU and ending up with an incomplete computer.

Cheers!
 

Deuce65

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Ethylene Glycol.
It doesn't like acrylic though so be careful.
 

TechiGamer

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Ya that is the problem... my reservoir is acrylic.
 

TechiGamer

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Would propylene glycol work with acrylic?