Can I use a refrigerant condenser/ evaporator coil?

Silent Wolf · Sep 10, 2014

Has anyone ever used a refrigerant condenser or evaporator coil for the water cooling radiator? If so, how well did it work? I have a few of them laying around and I am about to start a water cooling build, so I was thinking about using this. http://www.qatcom.com/uploads/listing/advert/maram%20refrigeration%20&%20trading%20company%20doha%20qatar%20-%20airconditioning%20condenser%20&%20evaporator.jpg

hst101rox · Sep 10, 2014

I think the OP just wants to use a condenser/evaporator as the radiator for water cooling. As in, will the water path be optimal, how to match up the interfaces?

popatim · Sep 10, 2014

Water isnt compressable. Back to hvac school for you. LoL

Silent Wolf · Sep 10, 2014

As answered above, I would like to use the coil as the radiator for my water cooling setup, I never said anything about using the compressor for my setup. I was wondering if the coil would be sufficient enough to keep the water near ambient temperature.

k1114 · Sep 10, 2014

Afaik the coils themselves aren't any different. It's just pipes for the fluid to travel and fins. The difference in them absorbing or expelling heat is from the refrigerant's state/pressure/temp. Without anything other than a pump, it would be just like a radiator.

Silent Wolf · Sep 10, 2014

I guess I will just have to do some testing then to see how it pars to a regular radiator.

popatim · Sep 10, 2014

Silent Wolf :

My bad, I misread condensor as compressor.

iamlegend · Sep 10, 2014

Ideally it is possible. Both for cooling purposes (shells/fins and tubes).
I also think you can even run a refrigerant if you have the resources to cool your CPU but it`s a little bit overkill.

So do you mean, you will use the coils as a radiator? It`s hard to comprehend by only stating that for thermal efficiency includes surface area and thermal transfer coefficient that is distinct in every material.

If you can give a photo of your set-up, maybe it will arise interest of many. (especially me).

Share a photo man,

It`s quite interesting.

cdburner5911 · Sep 11, 2014

Silent Wolf :

You totally can use a evap/condenser coil for water cooling! It is not exactly ideal, but I think if you had one that was large enough, it would be more than adequate. On a typical condenser coil he flow starts at one side and you have a single run that snakes its way through. This works well for refrigerant, but not as well for water. Radiators (for cars and water cooling) typically have a ton passes, all in parallel, so it is a U shaped flow. This works well for water, but not for refrigerant.

That being said, if you had a coil with large (3/8 maybe) pipe, and a strong pump, then I imagine you could dissipate a large amount of heat. since there are so many passes and so many corners in a typical evap/condenser coil you would likely end up with a good amount of pressure drop across the coil. So a cheap pump may not be able to have enough flow.

And if you build it using a coil, and decide it doesn't work well enough, you can always go buy a normal radiator.

And when you get it finished, you should certainly post pictures

rubix_1011 · Sep 11, 2014

To reaffirm what is being asked, the compressor coils themselves could be used, but would not provide much in the way of cooling over traditional radiators. The simple reason is turbulent flow vs. laminar flow and surface contact area of the water in the tubing with the tubing walls themselves. This is why watercooling radiators use narrow, rectangular fins to maximize surface area and promote turbulent flow within the tubes. Laminar flow occurs when you have smooth, efficient tubes and walls (round tubing) and does not promote turbulence inside the tubing or promoting increased contact with the exchange surface, i.e. the tubing walls.

Silent Wolf · Sep 12, 2014

Thanks for the replies! I will be heading over to my shop probably later today/tonight to see what I have. i believe I have 2 of them at the moment that do not leak, but I could always weld the copper back up. I will post a picture later today or sometime over the weekend when I get the chance too.

@rubix That makes complete sense, but and also to add that refrigerant is at a decent amount of pressure, all the way up to 120 psi when it is in a hotter environment, so the rectangular fins would probably get puffed out.

rubix_1011 · Sep 12, 2014

I was under the impression that you were simply going to drain the coils and run normal water/coolant through them. Is this not the case? That link you provided is just the coil and is essentially a 'radiator'.

Silent Wolf · Sep 12, 2014

rubix_1011 :

Silent Wolf · Sep 12, 2014

It is the case, sorry for the confusion... I was just stating another fact of why refrigerant doesn't use rectangular fins. I will drain the coils and run water through them.

iamlegend · Sep 15, 2014

I think this will also lead to using a refrigerant

You can also try it if you have the skills. That would be a next level CPU cooling.

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