copper CPU cooler

Anything cooling/condenser related.

Moderator: Site Moderator

User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by acfixer69 »

I'm sure that they are both doing 55Kwatt but the shot gun will do more. Almost all the reflux condensers on the home build plated stills a way to big. In the build threads they all say that it's better to have and not need then to need and not have. This is true with a product condenser but not so with reflux. Oversize refux and the dwell time can be so slow that you have no idea whats happenin.
By the way I cut a cooling heat sink from an old laptop and what I had thought was solid copper was a heat pipe hollow with a fiber. I learned something today. Now I need to fined out what gas/liquid and get a P/T chart to see what gas would be best for stilling thanks this threat has poked me to the eye in a good way.
User avatar
Chauncey
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:30 am
Location: NOLA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Chauncey »

shadylane wrote:33 dollars poorer and waiting on the UPS delivery van.
Even if this experiment don't work, all isn't lost.
My old dog will get to chase and bark at the UPS :lol:
I hear they take selfies with dogs along their routes now.... :lol:
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>

When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

acfixer69 wrote:By the way I cut a cooling heat sink from an old laptop and what I had thought was solid copper was a heat pipe hollow with a fiber. I learned something today. Now I need to fined out what gas/liquid and get a P/T chart to see what gas would be best for stilling thanks this threat has poked me to the eye in a good way.
Was the fiber wick removable :?:
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by acfixer69 »

IMG_0054.JPG
IMG_0053.JPG
It looks more like ribbon strips when I used a cut off tool to open it up. They are glued or something.
Attachments
IMG_0057.JPG
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by NZChris »

Do an image search for heat pipe cross section. To make your own wicked heat pipe, you might get away with lining it with copper braid.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

This has been a learning experience for me. A few days ago I didn't know about heat pipes.
In a couple more days, I'll get to destroy 3 brand new ones :lol:

Here's what's probably inside the heat pipes
It looks like all 3 wick styles would restrict the cooling water flow.
But, It should help transfer heat to the cooling water.
Attachments
wick.png
Last edited by shadylane on Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by acfixer69 »

I learned a lot also, the one I tore up would have done a nice job cooling my SSR on my controller. I'll have another soon enough.
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by NZChris »

The wick is for capillary action and is more important when you want the heat to flow against gravity.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

acfixer69 wrote:I learned a lot also, the one I tore up would have done a nice job cooling my SSR on my controller.
A picture just popped in to my head of a steam-punk copper CPU cooler for a SSR or SSVR :lol:
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

I removed everything I didn't need and replumbed the cooler.
Haven't soldered anything yet
Figure to have a couple shots of DIY Irish whisky first.
That should calm my nerves, or give me something to blame if I screw up :lol:
Attachments
DSCF0040.JPG
DSCF0041.JPG
OtisT
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:59 am
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by OtisT »

shadylane wrote:
acfixer69 wrote:I learned a lot also, the one I tore up would have done a nice job cooling my SSR on my controller.
A picture just popped in to my head of a steam-punk copper CPU cooler for a SSR or SSVR :lol:
Don’t forget to add a Sterling Engine to run the fan and/or pump.
Otis’ Pot and Thumper, Dimroth Condenser: Pot-n-Thumper/Dimroth
Learning to Toast: Toasting Wood
Polishing Spirits with Fruitwood: Fruitwood
Badmotivator’s Barrels: Badmo Barrels
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

A CPU cooler on a small Sterling Engine.
I like the idea.
User avatar
Kindafrench
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 179
Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:05 am

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Kindafrench »

Maybe a fancy product cooler, but no vapour condenser.

CPUs may dissipate up to 200 watts, not talking about some watts on top for overclocking. That‘s what the cooler is made for.
„Thermal Design Power (TDP) represents the average power, in watts, the processor dissipates when operating at Base Frequency with all cores active under an Intel-defined, high-complexity workload.“.
Refer to CPU datasheets for more details.

But enjoy the Bastelstunde :D
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

I had to google Bastelstunde :lol:
Got a little more done today.
It will now fit inside the 4" column.
Attachments
DSCF0043.JPG
User avatar
Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7653
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Yummyrum »

Tidy work Shady
:thumbup:
Did you soft solder or braze those tubes on ?
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

Soft solder
I would have preferred brazing but the tubes are very thin wall.
The ID appears to be around 5.5mm
For the scientifically challenged Americans, the tubes are 7/32" ID :lol:
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

Getting closer
The vapor out is 1" The water in, out and thermo is 1/4"
Attachments
DSCF0047.JPG
DSCF0048.JPG
DSCF0049.JPG
DSCF0050.JPG
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

OtisT wrote:4 cents.
A drop of condensation would fill those gaps between fins and there goes the surface area. AND don’t even think about what it would take to clean after a puke w/o ruining every fin.

Otis
A little while @ 100% reflux should gently clean puke from anything on the vapor side :wink:
I think the fins probably would get water logged.
Hopefully alcohol vapor, acts different than water. :lol:
User avatar
Kindafrench
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 179
Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:05 am

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Kindafrench »

shadylane wrote:Hopefully alcohol vapor, acts different than water. :lol:
:lol: Some of the vapour will even condense to alcohol and will act like. Watch the sides of a wineglas filled with water and one with wine. Would be interesting to see a photo with fins dipped in alcohol and fins dipped in water. Maybe not a big difference in cooling efficiency.
User avatar
Chauncey
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:30 am
Location: NOLA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Chauncey »

shadylane wrote:Getting closer
The vapor out is 1" The water in, out and thermo is 1/4"
Looks cool af. Eagerly awaiting the results on the finished condenser. I'm in the little faith boat right now tho.
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>

When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

Your not the only one in the little faith boat :lol:
The finned dephlegmator is finished. I'll probably start testing tomorrow.
I'm also cleaning up the shotgun and dimroth dephleg
Figure a little competition is in order :wink:
Attachments
1/4&quot; hose barb to 1/4 copper adapter
1/4" hose barb to 1/4 copper adapter
Dephlegmator made from CPU cooler
Dephlegmator made from CPU cooler
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

I'm surprised the finned dephleg actually works :lol:
Here's where I compare it with some the other dephlegamators I've build
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=74391
User avatar
Chauncey
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:30 am
Location: NOLA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Chauncey »

shadylane wrote:I'm surprised the finned dephleg actually works :lol:
Here's where I compare it with some the other dephlegamators I've build
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=74391
High five
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>

When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

The dephleg made out of a CPU Cooler worked. But it was a water hog
It needed more cooling water tubes than it had.
It sure was a pretty piece of copper porn :thumbup:
Unfortunately, a simple dimroth outperformed it, by being more efficient, easier, cheaper to make and less likely to leak.
User avatar
Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7653
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Yummyrum »

Nice work Shady . I have to say I’m supprised those 3 coils pulled as much heat as they did .
Good onya for seeing this through . :thumbup:
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

It could knock down almost 7kw but it needed 8 liters a minute of cooling water
The shotgun and dimroth could knock 7kw down with 1.5 L/M
User avatar
Chauncey
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:30 am
Location: NOLA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Chauncey »

This makes me think...

Do fins have a use in condenser efficiency improvement seeing as they helped that little bit of coil function as a dephlag

So how can fins be incorporated to the more efficient designs we already use - and further how can their addition be executed combing ease of construction and low cost with greatest efficiency?
<no stopping to corner anytime [] no parking passenger zone>

When people tell me I'll regret that in the morning, I sleep till noon.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by shadylane »

I kinda think some fuzzy 3/8" tubing would make a good dimroth.
Now, where the hell can I find some of that in copper or SS :lol:
User avatar
Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7653
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by Yummyrum »

Wondering Shady if you connected the three tubes in series to make a more traditional dimroth would it be much different to the three coils in parallel .

Likewise wondering if a multi loop parallel connected cooler like you did but with many more loops would be a any different to the same number of coils n series ?

I know the copper scrubber did nothing in your dimroth test but maybe that was because it was already efficient enough . Would three turns on there own then benifit from copper packing as it may act like the fins
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: copper CPU cooler

Post by acfixer69 »

The fin design was meant for air over heat removal not as a condensing function latent heat as a heat tube exhaust not the load.
Post Reply