DIY Cooling tower ;)
- Thread starter 420Hazza
- Start date
420Hazza
Active Member
Lol hahahhahahahah just an idea of a cheap running cooling system because these ac units are expensive here you just run a cheap fucking water pump
do you think it's a good idea ?
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
This has possibilities, but needs a bit more work. As shown, it's basically a vertical swamp cooler. Nothing wrong with that, but it takes up a lot of space.
If your plan is to cool and humidify an open ventilated space, this is an option worth looking into. If you're trying to cool a sealed space, this won't work.
BUT- I did try to combine a cooling tower with an air to water heat exchanger, aka radiator, heater core, Icebox. I was hoping enough cool air would accumulate beneath the cold core that it would continue drawing air thru on its own- but at only four feet tall, it's just not enough height.
What it did pretty effectively was to separate hot air from near the ceiling from cooler air near the floor. That's a good thing because now my Super Silos can all draw cool air from near the floor all the time.
If your plan is to cool and humidify an open ventilated space, this is an option worth looking into. If you're trying to cool a sealed space, this won't work.
BUT- I did try to combine a cooling tower with an air to water heat exchanger, aka radiator, heater core, Icebox. I was hoping enough cool air would accumulate beneath the cold core that it would continue drawing air thru on its own- but at only four feet tall, it's just not enough height.
What it did pretty effectively was to separate hot air from near the ceiling from cooler air near the floor. That's a good thing because now my Super Silos can all draw cool air from near the floor all the time.
420Hazza
Active Member
Yeh
mate it's just a prototype I don't need to look into ac.... As I'll be doing sealed growth but am looking to do a tent grow later on this year so then I'll have a time to look into it
vitamin_green_inc
Well-Known Member
Good idea, but they already have these...the ones in production can go on a cooler, etc, the issue being that you have to replace the ice...I also don't know if it would make it too humid? They only need charging from batteries as well 
420Hazza
Active Member
These shouldn't be for larger opp, lets say in my case up to 600w HPS from tent etc.. These should be outside so the humidity won't be affectedGood idea, but they already have these...the ones in production can go on a cooler, etc, the issue being that you have to replace the ice...I also don't know if it would make it too humid? They only need charging from batteries as well
vitamin_green_inc
Well-Known Member
Okay? Haha, the item does the same thing regardless of where you place it? It has a tube that goes to the source of cold, and a machine that dispenses it. About the size of your forearm...its about 20 from amazon...I was actually looking for a battery operated fan to blow air at the back of my cab to push hot air away and replace with cold air, and as soon as I typed into Google the word "battery operated" it gave me the options of "battery operated ac" "battery operated portable pocket ac" among others...give it a look
420Hazza
Active Member
I
deffinitely will
Commander Strax
Well-Known Member
I use one of these
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
That's called a 'chiller' and it's a size I like to deride as a 'toy', because it's so easy to overload or improperly install that it gives water chilling a bad name. I sincerely hope yours is providing you good service.I use one of these
Mine is 2 Tons, that's 24k BTu, and it cools up to twelve bare bulbs (6 at a time on a 12/12 schedule), dehumidifies AND chills the RDWC. By itself.
As an extra added bonus, the heat it rejects is recaptured and heats my home all winter. Free.
Commander Strax
Well-Known Member
$50 on craigslist and it is easily chilling my 6 gallon res
interesting fact...1 ton is the measurement equal to the cooling ability of 2000 pounds of ice
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
That's good. I hear so many horror stories of people expecting miracles from tiny units that I'm skeptical of the small ones. That's obviously an installation issue rather than a problem with the unit itself- and in fact it also explains how I was able to get my own system for as little as I did; the seller gave up on the install and lost patience. I got my setup for 20% of retail.
Another interesting fact; one Ton is a significantly larger unit than one hp, which is how many chillers are rated. Really, the only substantive difference between an AC unit and a chiller is that the Freon circulates through a water jacket instead of through a radiator another fan blows air to be cooled across. That makes a chiller slightly less complex and more reliable, assuming the manufacturer has installed an appropriate thermostat with freeze protection.
More fun facts; if you have a bigger heat load during the day than at night, you can use overall system thermal mass to store enough excess cooling capacity to temporarily chill the system well beyond the chiller's rated capacity. This kind of buffering comes easily to water systems, yet is all but impossible to achieve with AC. This is yet another way of saying that a little water cooling love goes a lot further than most people expect.
ASMALLVOICE
Well-Known Member
It is a doable concept for sure, depending on your needs, the effectiveness is a sum of a boat load of variables.ie... air temp. water temp., humidity, air speed and more
The most important factor most overlook is the cleanliness of the water used in the cooler res. very susceptible to molds, bacteria and fungus, all of which are evil foes to fight.
Aside from that, would love to see one in action for sure. and the operational costs will be as low as they come when you get it dialed in right.
Peace and Great Grows
Asmallvoice
The most important factor most overlook is the cleanliness of the water used in the cooler res. very susceptible to molds, bacteria and fungus, all of which are evil foes to fight.
Aside from that, would love to see one in action for sure. and the operational costs will be as low as they come when you get it dialed in right.
Peace and Great Grows
Asmallvoice