DIY aircooled condencer
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- shadylane
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DIY aircooled condencer
3/4" copper tube that's been pre-tinned
Heat the tubing to soldering temp and wrap copper scrubbies around it.
Heat the tubing to soldering temp and wrap copper scrubbies around it.
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Burned my finger
Maybe this double sided tape will mechanically and thermally bond the cooper wool to the outside of the tubing
https://www.amazon.com/25Mx20mmx0-15mm- ... sive&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Maybe this double sided tape will mechanically and thermally bond the cooper wool to the outside of the tubing
https://www.amazon.com/25Mx20mmx0-15mm- ... sive&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
shadylane wrote:Burned my finger
Maybe this double sided tape will mechanically and thermally bond the cooper wool to the outside of the tubing
https://www.amazon.com/25Mx20mmx0-15mm- ... sive&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Not seeing how this will work - are you thinking of trying to emulate the baseboard heaters with fins?
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Better grab some old water heaters that have fins on copper pipe.shadylane wrote:3/4" copper tube that's been pre-tinned
Heat the tubing to soldering temp and wrap copper scrubbies around it.
I don't think copper scrubbers will do any good, but I wait for to to prove I'm wrong !
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
I've already experimented using finned tubing for an air-cooled condenser viewtopic.php?f=87&t=56652
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Oh ! Nice
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Shadys at it again. You taking pics of the process?
Which boiler is it for?
Yak
Which boiler is it for?
Yak
HDNB wrote: The trick here is to learn what leads to a stalled mash....and quit doing that.
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
The last thing I need is another still
Figured to make a fuzzy aircooled condenser just to see if it will work.
Here's the copper mesh I'll be using https://www.amazon.com/Stuf-fit-Copper- ... dpSrc=srch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Figured to make a fuzzy aircooled condenser just to see if it will work.
Here's the copper mesh I'll be using https://www.amazon.com/Stuf-fit-Copper- ... dpSrc=srch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Right on. How long are you planning on making it? Fans?
And what do you mean you don't need another still. There's always room for another still.
And what do you mean you don't need another still. There's always room for another still.
HDNB wrote: The trick here is to learn what leads to a stalled mash....and quit doing that.
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Don't know what I'm gonna doyakattack wrote:Right on. How long are you planning on making it? Fans?
Figure first, I'd better see if I can bond the copper mesh to the copper tube
Then I'll start making plans
Can you picture a fuzzy copper worm, without the flake stand
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Oh yes, I can imagine my spiral air cooled ss 8 m long condenser, clad with copper or ss wool. Seems quite fluffy!shadylane wrote:Don't know what I'm gonna doyakattack wrote:Right on. How long are you planning on making it? Fans?
Figure first, I'd better see if I can bond the copper mesh to the copper tube
Then I'll start making plans
Can you picture a fuzzy copper worm, without the flake stand
But I doubt if that will enhance the cooling properties.
I rather use wet cloth, wrapped around the worm and wetted by a thick rope. The evaporation of water takes much more heat than the heating of water.
Maybe if you wet your wool?
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
shady ; why not start with wrapping that entire 30' of mesh around your 3/4' and securingshadylane wrote:Don't know what I'm gonna doyakattack wrote:Right on. How long are you planning on making it? Fans?
Figure first, I'd better see if I can bond the copper mesh to the copper tube
Then I'll start making plans
Can you picture a fuzzy copper worm, without the flake stand
the ends with a wrap of copper wire. if that is inadequate, then smear the pipe with thermal
paste and wrap again. you can also run that mesh tube over itself like a sock and run your
tube through the middle instead of wrapping.
be water my friend
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
this is a cool idea. my hydronic heating element is so long it is a PITA to use sometimes. (but not as big a pita as using water!)
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
cede wrote:Better grab some old water heaters that have fins on copper pipe.shadylane wrote:3/4" copper tube that's been pre-tinned
Heat the tubing to soldering temp and wrap copper scrubbies around it.
I don't think copper scrubbers will do any good, but I wait for to to prove I'm wrong !
Can't imagine why not - same principle as the finned tubes right? May need to find a way to increase the contact surface area though?
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
I haven't received the double side tape or the copper mesh yet, but here's the 1/2" aka 12.7mm tubing
Hells of fire, copper isn't cheap anymore.
Hells of fire, copper isn't cheap anymore.
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Yes, I understood.
And I like the idea and the looks. But:
1) To transport heat from the condenser to the wool, you need good contact between the two. All parts of the copper wool should be well connected to the pipe. But as wool goes: that is difficult to accomplish.
2) To transport heat from the wool to air, you need good contact between the two. But in the wool the speed of air is diminished quite a lot. That is why wool is such a good insulator: the speed of air is reduced to almost zero.
So I think the cooling with fins soldered onto pipe and with clear paths for flowing air will have more effect than wool.
But seeing how far you already are with your idea: go on and try it. You might prove me wrong!
And I like the idea and the looks. But:
1) To transport heat from the condenser to the wool, you need good contact between the two. All parts of the copper wool should be well connected to the pipe. But as wool goes: that is difficult to accomplish.
2) To transport heat from the wool to air, you need good contact between the two. But in the wool the speed of air is diminished quite a lot. That is why wool is such a good insulator: the speed of air is reduced to almost zero.
So I think the cooling with fins soldered onto pipe and with clear paths for flowing air will have more effect than wool.
But seeing how far you already are with your idea: go on and try it. You might prove me wrong!
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
As you already know, It ain't right or wrong, It's what's in the middle and how oftenKareltje wrote:You might prove me wrong!
- raketemensch
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
You could buy some aluminum roof flashing, fold it into an accordion, drill a hole to pass your tubing through, then just slide the tubing through it.
The thermal paste’s a great idea as well.
The thermal paste’s a great idea as well.
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Good pointcob wrote:you can also run that mesh tube over itself like a sock and run your
tube through the middle instead of wrapping.
The mess does unroll in the form of a tube
Maybe thread a wire, long wise through the mesh tube, then wrap the wire and the mesh onto the 1/2" tubing
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Copper mesh has a mind of it's own, It's almost as stubborn as me.
Here's the latest attempt, I used a 14ga wire and folded the mesh in half over it. Then wound it on the tubing.
Here's the latest attempt, I used a 14ga wire and folded the mesh in half over it. Then wound it on the tubing.
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Kareltje wrote:Yes, I understood.
And I like the idea and the looks. But:
1) To transport heat from the condenser to the wool, you need good contact between the two. All parts of the copper wool should be well connected to the pipe. But as wool goes: that is difficult to accomplish.
2) To transport heat from the wool to air, you need good contact between the two. But in the wool the speed of air is diminished quite a lot. That is why wool is such a good insulator: the speed of air is reduced to almost zero.
So I think the cooling with fins soldered onto pipe and with clear paths for flowing air will have more effect than wool.
But seeing how far you already are with your idea: go on and try it. You might prove me wrong!
Wool is not the same as copper wool/ mesh.
If copper mesh reduced airflow to zero, you would see a lot of blowed up reflux stills round here!
Stuff a tube full of mesh and blow through it - almost no resistance, even if you really jam it in there.
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Was thinking about the wire wrap- you could make a pretty good amount of surface contact wrapping the copper mesh loosely and generously around the tube, then securing it with copper wire wraps an inch or two apart. Then you could fluff out the mesh a bit.
kinda like
kinda like
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
I've decided to give up on the DIY aircooled condenser.
The idea sounded good when I started.
Here's a pic of my final failure
The idea sounded good when I started.
Here's a pic of my final failure
Re: DIY aircooled condencer
shadylane: this viewtopic.php?f=50&t=70265 might be an idea for you!
- shadylane
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Re: DIY aircooled condencer
Thanks