A chilling experiment

[s1214215]

Hi Tindomul

There will be a small sump tank in the cabinet to hold the cold water. There will be no water in the growing area at all.

You are correct. The chiller is used to cool the water passing throught the radiator which then cools the air passing over it.

Brett

[Tindomul]

Thanks. I can't wait to see this.
Would it be possible to use the radiator without the chiller and still get a drop in temperatures?

[s1214215]

Originally Posted by ;195642

Thanks. I can't wait to see this.
Would it be possible to use the radiator without the chiller and still get a drop in temperatures?

Hi Tindomul

I dont think you would get a lot of drop with no cooling device. However, I can try it easily enough by leaving the chiller turned off and see. Any way, I will try to make a diagram of my idea tomorrow. Been too busy this week.

Brett

[s1214215]

Hi everyone

I have decided to buy a different chiller now. Got a bit concerned about the other one I had lined up.

A point that is playing on my mind is that the maximum drop of water temperature that most chillers can get to is 4 Celsius and that is depended on how much water you cool and ambient temperature. The chiller advertised here has been modified and can get to 0c with some anti-freeze in the water. Modified 1/5 HP Chiller I wonder if they put in a new thermostat or just modified the existing one. Maybe I can get a local electrician to modify one for me...

Martin, who used an old freezer, a pump and copper pipe was getting a cool down of 10c.
My cooling unit - Carnivorous Plants UK I need only a 6c to 8c drop depending on room temp.

I wonder if that 4c of difference will be needed. It is cheaper for me to buy one here in Thailand. Any ideas on the 4c, would I need to get it to freezing point? As I have never done this before I wonder about this. The temperature I am aiming for in the tank is about 22c.

I also went to the local computer market to get the fans I want.... Seems they wont have them until sometime in March... Not a common item in Bangkok either. Will have to look into whether importing it is worth it. I can see this endevour isnt going to be a past put together.

Brett

UPDATE: Ok, got an answer. A aquarium website I follow says I will need to get a new thermostat and replace the old one. No big problem I guess. I will try it out with the unmodified chiller to start though.

[s1214215]

Hi Everyone

I got a message from Martin on using a chiller as a water cooler for this type of air cooling.

He said, "They are even more effective, and much smaller than my fridge. I measured the temperature of my circulation water: +8°C; so with +4°C you will do even better than my setup."

"If you aren't happy with your cooling results, you will get a great improvement if you place the lights outside (if you aren't already doing so)."

So it may be possible to just use an unmodified chiller

Brett

[s1214215]

Ok. I am on the roll again with this project . Here is the new cooling fan/radiator. I am getting the chiller next week.

Brett

[Tindomul]

What makes them radiators? They look like regular fans.

[s1214215]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

What makes them radiators? They look like regular fans.

Hi Tindomul

In front of the fan, there is a grid that has pipes running through it. Water, chilled in this case, is pumped through it. Air blowing over it is chilled.

It is is a reverse of a car radiator I guess, where the air sucked over the grid cools the water, but the mechanics are similar.

By the way, if I have this slightly wrong for a car, sorry. I am not a mechanic

Brett

[s1214215]

Next week I am buying the chiller and doing the plumbing. Then I need a glasss top for the tank. After than I need to experiment to get the temperature right...

Its going to be fun

Brett

[s1214215]

Hi everyone

Here is the tank, lid, fan and lighting. Need to get tubes now and the chiller on Wednesday. I am running the aircond and the plants are loving the 95% humidity it seems.

Brett