DIY aircooled condencer

[shadylane]

3/4" copper tube that's been pre-tinned
Heat the tubing to soldering temp and wrap copper scrubbies around it.

[shadylane]

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

[hpby98]

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?

[cede]

3/4" copper tube that's been pre-tinned
Heat the tubing to soldering temp and wrap copper scrubbies around it.

Better grab some old water heaters that have fins on copper pipe.
I don't think copper scrubbers will do any good, but I wait for to to prove I'm wrong !

[shadylane]

I've already experimented using finned tubing for an air-cooled condenser viewtopic.php?f=87&t=56652

[cede]

Oh ! Nice

[yakattack]

Shadys at it again. You taking pics of the process?
Which boiler is it for?
Yak

[shadylane]

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

[yakattack]

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.

[shadylane]

Right on. How long are you planning on making it? Fans?

Don't know what I'm gonna do
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

[Kareltje]

Right on. How long are you planning on making it? Fans?

Don't know what I'm gonna do
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

Oh yes, I can imagine my spiral air cooled ss 8 m long condenser, clad with copper or ss wool. Seems quite fluffy!

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?

[cob]

Right on. How long are you planning on making it? Fans?

Don't know what I'm gonna do
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

shady ; why not start with wrapping that entire 30' of mesh around your 3/4' and securing

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.

[LBHD]

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!)

[LBHD]

3/4" copper tube that's been pre-tinned
Heat the tubing to soldering temp and wrap copper scrubbies around it.

Better grab some old water heaters that have fins on copper pipe.
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]

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.

[shadylane]

Here's what I'm thinking about doing.

[Kareltje]

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!

[shadylane]

You might prove me wrong!

As you already know, It ain't right or wrong, It's what's in the middle and how often

[raketemensch]

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.

[shadylane]

you can also run that mesh tube over itself like a sock and run your

tube through the middle instead of wrapping.

Good point
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]

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.

[LBHD]

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.

[LBHD]

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

[shadylane]

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

[Kareltje]

shadylane: this viewtopic.php?f=50&t=70265 might be an idea for you!

[shadylane]

Thanks