High-density liquid cooling?

[jkraghify]

So I was talking with my room mates earlier today and water cooling came up (we were distilling water for some of our plants). Eventually, we came up with the idea of using high-density liquids in a liquid cooling loop and quickly identified that the pump would die because of low head pressure; and that that is why we all use water in our loops.

 

The conversation went a little further when I suggested that the loop would only move side to side and not up/down. I think this would drastically lower the required head pressure for the pump; however, my room mates say that since a high-density liquid would be heavier than water, it would still take much more power to move.

 

My reasoning is that the pump overcomes the forces within the loop (from the bends, blocks, and change in height) and that the only variable between water and an equally viscous, high-density fluid is the force of gravity. Consequently, if gravity is removed from the loop by removing the change in height, the loop should work, right?

 

What do you guys think? If there was a fluid with the same viscosity as water being used in a lateral loop, would the pump die?

 

And no, I'm not thinking of dumping mercury (or another HDF) in my PC. Just curious if it would work in a lateral situation.

[d3sl91]

There is a difference between the pump dying and not moving it fast enough. 

 

So, you can always get an indistrial pump, and use that, and voila, no pump issues. BUT, the point of liquid, is to move the hot liquid away from the blocks to a radiator as fast as you can, and denser liquid would not do that. It would also be harder to cool denser liquid.

 

That's my thoughts. 

[jkraghify]

Right, but on a more basic level, without computers involved, would it really take more force to move a heavier liquid though a pipe if it was the same volume of fluid with the same viscosity of water? If so, what force does the pump need to overcome due to an increase in density?

[W-L]

So I was talking with my room mates earlier today and water cooling came up (we were distilling water for some of our plants). Eventually, we came up with the idea of using high-density liquids in a liquid cooling loop and quickly identified that the pump would die because of low head pressure; and that that is why we all use water in our loops.

 

The conversation went a little further when I suggested that the loop would only move side to side and not up/down. I think this would drastically lower the required head pressure for the pump; however, my room mates say that since a high-density liquid would be heavier than water, it would still take much more power to move.

 

My reasoning is that the pump overcomes the forces within the loop (from the bends, blocks, and change in height) and that the only variable between water and an equally viscous, high-density fluid is the force of gravity. Consequently, if gravity is removed from the loop by removing the change in height, the loop should work, right?

 

What do you guys think? If there was a fluid with the same viscosity as water being used in a lateral loop, would the pump die?

 

And no, I'm not thinking of dumping mercury (or another HDF) in my PC. Just curious if it would work in a lateral situation.

 

What high density liquid are we talking about here if it's something like heavy water they use in nuclear reactor cooling it's still water just an isotope of it. 

[Oberon.Smite]

Ah sorry NVM

[jkraghify]

What high density liquid are we talking about here if it's something like heavy water they use in nuclear reactor cooling it's still water just an isotope of it. 

Just imagine a fluid ten times as dense as water. It really doesn't matter. The reason this is in "off topic" is because I am thinking about the physics of it, not the application.

[W-L]

Just imagine a fluid ten times as dense as water. It really doesn't matter. The reason this is in "off topic" is because I am thinking about the physics of it, not the application.

 

Hmm as long as it has enough surface area in the blocks to transfer more heat capacity to the liquid it would be interesting, but density of liquids doesn't always equate to high viscosity, in most cases it does but not all. So as long as the pump was powerful enough or you had a different type of pump, that's not the regular impeller type, moving viscous or heavy fluids shouldn't be an issue.

[han_han08]

would it really take more force to move a heavier liquid though a pipe if it was the same volume of fluid with the same viscosity of water? If so, what force does the pump need to overcome due to an increase in density?

same viscosity, but different mass...it should require more force to move it, but then again, it's just as viscous as water..

so I dont really know anymore.haha

[jkraghify]

Hmm as long as it has enough surface area in the blocks to transfer more heat capacity to the liquid it would be interesting, but density of liquids doesn't always equate to high viscosity, in most cases it does but not all. So as long as the pump was powerful enough or you had a different type of pump, that's not the regular impeller type, moving viscous or heavy fluids shouldn't be an issue.

That was similar to what I am thinking. My room mate and I want to do an experiment with this now. Maybe in a couple weeks when we are on break

Of course, not testing with a computer, just going to try to use a regular water pump to move mercury or gallium (both a tad more viscous than water) in a horizontal pipe.

[W-L]

That was similar to what I am thinking. My room mate and I want to do an experiment with this now. Maybe in a couple weeks when we are on break

Of course, not testing with a computer, just going to try to use a regular water pump to move mercury or gallium (both a tad more viscous than water) in a horizontal pipe.

 

Just a small reference but lots of different types of pumps that could be used:

http://www.pumpscout.com/articles-scout-guide/pump-types-guide-aid100.html