17 Nov
1999
17 Nov
'99
7:40 a.m.
On Wed, 17 Nov 1999 Philip.Belben(a)pgen.com wrote:
Anyway, it seems to me that the way to go is:
1. Peltier chip between CPU and heatsink. Heatsink is a large block of copper.
2. Use a refrigerant cycle similar to a domestic freezer, but connect the
refrigerant circuit directly to holes bored in the heatsink block. No
intervening water circuit.
3. Of course, keep the refrigerant radiator well away from the system, and
supply it with plenty of fans...
4. Finally, try not to spill refrigerant if it's one of those chlorinated
organics that the environmentalists are always going on about. It won't do any
good (although a discussion of whether it does harm is decidedly off-topic), and
will be well-nigh impossible to replace...
One issue with copper is the cost. I can buy .5" x 4" aluminum barstock at
around $2.00 a foot (I'm sure our friends in Europe love these units of
measurement). It's also relatively easy to bore through with a
high-quality drill bit if cooled with running water. Also, if I happen to
screw up and drill through the side I don't cry as much...
For my current peltier-based setup, I have to use a coldplate against the
cpu itself because I'm using multiple TECs in the design. After getting
some help with actually arranging the different variables into a useable
equation, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the temperatures were
within +/- 3C of my calculations.
One last note about using a water-exchanger in this setup (and then I'll
shut-up, I promise), is that it's nice not to have to worry about cooling
the inside of the case too! Also, it doesn't sound like a jet-engine
starting up...the pump is more like the pleasant gurgle of an aquarium.
So off-topic it hurts,
Aaron