Extreme TEC chiller experiment with Antec

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Hello, and welcome to this experiment to get as cool temps in my rig to get the highest overclocks as possible :D

First of all, I would like to give a big thanks to Antec for making this TEC chiller experiment possible :-)


** No hotlinked images **
And Monsoon for some fittings:
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1833952/width/300/height/1000

As said, the point of this TEC experiment is to cool down the water temperature in my rig to get some nice overclocks. The rig is not final yet, but it's coming along really nice and you can se more here; http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18487953
But here a sneak peak;
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1730583/width/500/height/1000

But back to the chiller;
As the title say this is a TEC chiller. In short a TEC/Peltier can transport heat from one side to the other, and by that make one of the side cold, but the other warm. To know more look here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effect
The TEC does this just by using electricity which is why a TEC is a genius invention.
However TEC's are not that efficient just yet, which is why they are not that common use in things like a fridge (but they will perhaps become in a few years).

But their inefficiency isn't that big a problem for this experiment since we just bump up the numbers of TECs and power for them should be no problem (except if the electric system in my apartment can't handle that amount of Watt's).

So the idea (for a TEC chiller in general) is to block the TECs in between two water blocks. The "cold-side" water block will be incorporated in the rigs loop (no radiator in this loop when the chiller is in work) so that the water will get cooled down and the hardware should get some low temperatures and then high overclocks :)

The "hot-side" of the "TEC sandwich" should have course be cooled (or it will most likely melt). But the lower the temperature of the "hot-side" the lower the temperature of the "cold-side" we can get. And since the experiment is to get as low temperature as possible, the cooling for the hot-side is also in the extreme category (more on this later :D)

TEC's
Right now it looks to be these TECs;
http://customthermoelectric.com/tecs/pdf/12711-5M31-24CZ_spec_sht.pdf
How many is still a bit uncertain, but it will be at least 12 of them (perhaps 16).
But if you have any other ideas for some better TECs, please speak up.
They will be run with 12V, so have this in mind ;)

Water blocks
The water blocks for the "TEC sandwich's" will be custom made in copper and plexi top.
The internal design for the water block is not still decided, but so far I'm looking toward something like this (Design from Skyrip at Overclock.net);
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1709702/width/500/height/1000
But perhaps with smaller and more of the squares to create some turbulence and high surface area that should make the blocks efficient to transfer heat to the water ;-)
But other designs are more then welcome as well :)

So there you have my idea for an extreme TEC chiller.
I don't know if I will make subzero temps when bench with just CPU or one GPU or the whole system, but the hardware will be isolated to cope with the possible condensation ;-)
 
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Last weak a heavy package came (guess from who :D):
** No hotlinked images **
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1734908/width/500/height/1000

And within that a few more packages;
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1734904/width/500/height/1000


Can you guess what is inside those packages?

If you thought fans, then you were right :)
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1734907/width/500/height/1000

And lots of them :D (56 of them to be precise)
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1734913/width/500/height/1000

Some nice fans with Double ball-bearing and able to move a good amount of air with 2000 rpm. Properly a bit noisy, but that really doesn't matter for me, they just need to move a lot of air. But if silence is needed they can always be slowed down to 1200 rpm.

But for this project I'm also in need of quiet a lot of thermal compound, and it have to operate at both high and low temperature along having good thermal conductivity. Which Antec also have supplied :D
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1734916/width/500/height/1000

Some nice Formula 7 with diamond particles (not sure if they really do the trick to getting lower temps, but it seems like a good thermal compound):
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1734917/width/500/height/1000

But there is plenty of it, which is needed for all the TEC's and the SG09 build's hardware :)

Antec did also through in a bit extra for my three U2711 screens (could use some cleaning after some 2 years of use :rolleyes:)
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1734918/width/500/height/1000

So that's it for now. Next step would be to get the water cooling for the "hot-side" loop home (guess what all those fans are for :D), and to decided which and how many TEC's I should get and order them (so the water block also can begin to take shape/design them).
 
So I have come a bit further in with this project :D

The following wasn't meant for this chiller, but for my SG09 build that was planned long ago.
That's also why they have the colors that they got (not Photoshop, but spray painted).
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1762644/width/500/height/1000

And yes, that is a Phobya External Radiator "Bench edition" stand, along with a D5 pump in a EKWB X-RES 140mm housing that have been spray painted white.
The stand only comes in black, and I ran out of paint on a Saturday (this summer), and haven't come much further since.
BUT it will get painted just as white as all the rest.
Then pump will also get a slap of paint. Not sure if I should go green on it or white like the rest.

On the other side we got the 9x120mm radiator that is 45mm thick, along the 120mm fans from Antec :D
** No hotlinked images **
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1762710/width/500/height/1000

I think that the plexi fans are looking really well with the rest, and I will look much better when the radiator stand will get all white.

Another package came this Friday including some of the best looking fittings right now (I do think that acrylic tubing and fittings looks nice, but for me Monsoon fittings and their colors are just the right thing :D )
So thanks to Monsoon for sponsoring some fittings for this chiller project :)
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1762713/width/500/height/1000

If we take a closer look at the pump/reservoir, you can see that it's not the normal water that is running round in the little loop.
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1762715/width/500/height/1000
I have always like the way that some colorful crystals was floating around in a liquid up in chemistry lap.
But most of those crystals was either expensive or very toxic.
So when I saw that Mayhems had made a similar product for watercooling, I new I had to have it.
The liquid is Mayhems Green Aurora.
(pump settings was "1" = the lowest)

But the Aurora is not ideally for this chiller experiment, so when that time comes, I will have found something more suitable.
The Aurora was for the looks in the SG09 build :rolleyes:

Doesn't those beautiful Monsoon fittings deserve a picture in focus?, I do believe so :D
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1762727/width/500/height/1000

Now before we end this update, soe of you may think; "that painting will get you higher temps".
And yes, that is correct, BUT again this was intended for the SG09 build, which really doesn't require a radiator like that, but I really like silence (or my girl does), so I got the radiator.

As for the chiller, one of these is clearly not enough for the amount of heat I will put into that loop.
But that's also why there is coming two more of these in (just 60mm thick) and all three of them will have push pull (that's way the 56 fans :D )
I do think that should do the trick :)

Just as a closing picture (don't stare to long at it), the structure of the radiator stand and radiator in background:
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1762734/width/500/height/1000
 
Thanks all :-)

Pretty, but pointless.

This type of cooling was tried, and abandoned, 10-15 years ago.

Nothing has changed since then that’d make it work any better.

Well TECs do evolve (and properly have since 15 years ago).
But yes TECs isn't the most popular way to cool due to them still being a bit inefficiency, but I still find them very cool (and fun, which is the most important thing) to play around with.

But if more people demanded that better TECs came around more would perhaps research in them, and in the end we would get better TECs (not just for PC coolers) :D
 
Hi all

Now with Christmas over and exams, I'm once again back to hopefully finish this build and the TEC cooler.
Also Happy New Year :)

This update isn't a big one, but I am in need of your help :)
I'm not at big water flow engineer, so if you got any ideas for at better water block for the TECs, please let me know :p

Currently I got this designed;
** No hotlinked images **
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1833902/width/500/height/1000


This will be in copper and it is 6mm high (with the squares 4mm(height)x2mmx2mm) and will get a acrylic top (where the inlet and oult will be and at each end).
Holes in the sides are for screws and springs to press the two blocks around the TEC tight together :-)

There will then be one at each side of the TECs.

The question is if this block is good enough for the amount of heat they need to take up and give to the water (4 or 5 TECs + some of the hardware load = approx. 1000w)?

Also Skyrip have suggested that I could use direct cooling of the TEC's instead (where the water runs directly over the TECs).
Something like that he have done here;
http://forum.highflow.nl/f34/super-cool-14427/index2.html

It would make it a lot cheaper and easier to make.
But I'm in doubt as to how well it would work, due to there is limited restriction (just a plain surface).

So if you got any suggesting for the water blocks please let me know ;)
 
Absolutely love that coolant :D

Thanks, I really do too :D

So ignoring the power requirements, and the extra heat this will produce what are you going to do about condensation issues?

Back in the day (I'm taking 10+ years ago when tecs / phase change was popular with the likes of prometia / vapochill) good tec loops require lots of insulation for condensation.

I had a TEC directly on my graphics card, a x800xt pro flashed to pe. I had a lot of insulation on it to prevent condensation.

I'm going to isolate the hardware that will get cooled down.
(not sure about the CPU yet, since that have been getting paint and Plastik 70 coat. So don't know if it can be isolated properly).

But the GPU will get some isolations (just like you do with ln2), and it will be the main thing I will overclock/chill with this chiller :p
(just no sure which GFX to get yet for the job :cool:)

Very intriguing and sounds like quite a challenge you've set yourself. Good luck

Yea I know. The problem isn't building the chiller (should be straight forward, even the blocks), but isolating the GFX (and perhaps motherboard) so it doesn't goes down is more the challenge for me :eek:
 
So that last of the watercooling gear have arrived :D
As I said, I do no believe that radiator cooling will be my bottleneck, and here's why:
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871804/width/500/height/1000

One big, fat 9x120mm radiator (60mm thick) ;)
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871858/width/500/height/1000
And when you place that in a Phobya radiator stand along 18 Antec fans it looks like this:
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871844/width/500/height/1000

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871845/width/500/height/1000
That is a heavy setup, and there is one more of those along the white/green radiator (45mm) posted above :D

And they cool really well.
Right now the green/white radiator + D5 pump is cooling a mining rig with a HD 7990 + 2x HD 7970 down to the cores are at only 44 degrees and water around 37 degrees (and that is a 24/7 setup) :D
And that is with only four 180mm fans at 700 rpm.
So the three of these radiators with push pull configuration with the 2000 rpm should be more than enough for this chiller :p

I also got some extra stuff, like an extra D5 pump to help in the cold loop and four temperature sensors (green LCD of course) and a lot of screws for the fans:
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871848/width/500/height/1000

** No hotlinked images **
Some of the Monsoon fittings also arrived, and quite a lot of them;
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871849/width/500/height/1000

And when taken out and assembled it looks like this;
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871850/width/500/height/1000

Beautiful :D

But this is not all of them, actually these are just around half of what I need for this chiller and SG09 build (around 30 pcs. both fittings and angle adaptors).
Some of the are in the mining rig, others are not yet bought due to uncertainties of how many TEC waterblocks that will be made (how many fittings is needed).

And once again, thanks to Monsoon for sponsoring some of their fine fittings, and I must say you are right;
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871851/width/500/height/1000

"Bling is good" :D

As for the TEC waterblocks I will go with the long thin lines, but have had time yet to design/draw them.
But should happen soon and hopefully I will find some cheap (but good) copper at that time.
(if you got a link to a seller in EU (that ships to Denmark) please post it :D)

I don't have that much more, except that I got a new pump for the SG09 (other one burst into flames) and I swapped out the GTX 670 4gb cards for a new;
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871853/width/500/height/1000

A nice Gigabyte GTX 780 TI :D
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871854/width/500/height/1000

It came as rev 1.0, so thought It was the reference PCB design, but luckily it was the custom more powerfull design :D
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871855/width/500/height/1000

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1871856/width/500/height/1000

I tried the card, and I must say it performs well and is really silent. Even in game after many hours of play, I cant hear it even with the case open (bot only at stock clocks for now and 1.5 meters away from case).
So that will be the card that will get chilled :D
(maybe another one will come along as well if my wallet is up for it).

And EKWB is making a full cover waterblock for it (yea), bot it will first get released in late February :-/
But when under the chiller it will be with a core block only (either custom one or a EKWB block), and with heatsinks on Vram and VRM.

So that's it for this time, any questions is welcome, and link to a good but cheap copper retailer is appreciated :D
 
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So, long time no see.
I'm sorry for this interruption in this build log/experiment but my studies and personal situation needed some attention.
And sadly I haven't been able to locate anyone with in Denmark that could and would help me making the waterblocks (had one for a few months until he backed out...) :mad:

But the good news is that I have found a solution that I think/hope will work out just as well. Did cost a little extra, but what the heck ;)
So small package (though quite heavy) came this week:
** No hotlinked images **
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198537/width/500/height/1000

Which contains the rest of the stuff for cooling these TEC's.
Some 6 meters of tubing, a reservoir and some fansplitters for the 54 fans :D
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198538/width/500/height/1000

As for the solution to cool the TEC's I went ahead and bought 20 Alphacool CPU waterblocks :p
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198540/width/500/height/1000

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198541/width/500/height/1000

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198542/width/500/height/1000

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198543/width/500/height/1000

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198544/width/500/height/1000

Some nice blocks, though I have seen better surfaces on other blocks out there. But I believe these will do just well when sandwiched around a TEC :D

Since there is 20 waterblocks that means I would also need some fittings:
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198545/width/500/height/1000

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198546/width/500/height/1000
Some 50 pcs of 90 degrees fittings and 10 straight ones.

Also with all these CPU blocks and the three big radiators I needed some more pump power so I bought two more D5 pumps (four in total now).
http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/2198547/width/500/height/1000

The plan is to get some of the 550W TEC's that is 62*62mm in size (found one from UK that would sell 10 of those to me): http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEC-Thermoe...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

They are a little bigger than the cooling surface area of the CPU coolers, so I will also get some 6mm thick 70*70mm copper plates, so the whole area of the TEC is in contact with the cooling surface.

I am open for suggestions if you believe there is a better TEC out there for this setup (will be running at 12V).

That was all for this time, the TEC's and copper plates will be bought in the upcoming week :D
And then a Classified 980 or similar when they arrive :p
 
So putting all of the TEC's together takes a little more time than expected.
First apply a thin layer of Antec's Formula 7 Thermal paste to get the best transfer of heat :D
W161frD.jpg.png

And then make a sandwich of CPU coolers around it:
zIdzir4.jpg.png

bfaKZQp.jpg.png

And then connecting them all:
GhXFF6p.jpg.png

My fingers was quite sore after some 60 fittings :D
But all done and installed (takes up most of the table):
3EBl8gq.jpg.png

I decided to start with just the two thick radiator since the TEC wattage have been lowered a bit, and as I expected the pumps had a hard time pumping the water around with two radiators and 10 CPU block.
To night I started out with installing the chilled water on a older GTS 250 card:
WFsoWTp.jpg.png

A bit overkill I think, but it just a test card :D
With a little overclock I believe the card is pulling out 130-150W. A little less than the stock GTX 980.
However the TEC setup had no problem in cooling the card. With heaven bench running the temperature of the cold loop began going towards 0 degrees C.
It took a few minutes since it had to cool the ~1.5 liter of water that is running around in the cold loop.
The core temperature of the GTS 250 followed the temperature of the water nicely with around +5 degrees.
I have no anti freeze in the system yet so the plan was to stop a 0.5 degrees. But right at 0.6 the core temp shot up to ~35. Some water properly froze in one of the CPU coolers and blocked the water from running around.
hS4z2oK.jpg.png

The above shows how the core temp fell from ~36 to 6 degrees in 15 seconds when the water began flowing around again :D
So I should properly get some anti freeze in the systems. Any ideas what to get?

Also, how much does I need to insulate the GFX? Perhaps someone got a good guide?
Since it does get some condensation:
ED81KyR.jpg.png

The hot loop was at 32 degrees when I stopped, and the room temperature was 22.
So with a load of 250-300W I should be able to get the cold loop down to ~-10 degrees :D
 
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