oilslick
Well-known member
Anybody do a homemade air to water cooler for a garage? I was thinking just burying a 1000' of 5/8 pec and running it thru a radiator.
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Geo thermal
- Thread starter oilslick
- Start date
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
I doubt that you'll get the water from the ground cold enough to pull the moisture out of the air. All you'll end up with a cool (not cold), moist air. There is a reason why the real geo-thermal systems use a compressor.
You don't indicated where you live. Wha is the temp in the ground?
Do you have a well?
I've had lots of experience with a ground water heat pump (pump water from well, send it through the heat pump, dump it in the river). Works as advertised.
Here is something I've thought about. Take a medium to large window A/C unit. Somehow put the coil on the back of the unit into a container of water. Cut, modify, resolder, recharge. And run well water through the container when the A/C unit runs. Use the running water to pull the heat off the AC unit so all you get in the shop is cold air. Heat is put into the water and you dump that outside. The coil used to cool the air should be cold enough to pull most of the moisture out taking care of the cool, damp air problem.
Only theory at this point. Guess I should put my hands and money where my mouth is!
You don't indicated where you live. Wha is the temp in the ground?
Do you have a well?
I've had lots of experience with a ground water heat pump (pump water from well, send it through the heat pump, dump it in the river). Works as advertised.
Here is something I've thought about. Take a medium to large window A/C unit. Somehow put the coil on the back of the unit into a container of water. Cut, modify, resolder, recharge. And run well water through the container when the A/C unit runs. Use the running water to pull the heat off the AC unit so all you get in the shop is cold air. Heat is put into the water and you dump that outside. The coil used to cool the air should be cold enough to pull most of the moisture out taking care of the cool, damp air problem.
Only theory at this point. Guess I should put my hands and money where my mouth is!
burleymike
Well-known member
I seriously considered building my own. I have a sand point well 13' into an endless supply of 52° water. I am sure I would need to move a lot of water to remove moisture but it would probably work. I know the steel lines going to my sprinkler pump sweat when the humidity goes above 30%.
When the A/C dies I plan to replace it and the electric furnace with a water source heat pump and take advantage of that ground water.
My dad has a friend who gets a foot of water in his basement all irrigation season long. He is not allergic to mold so he takes advantage of it. He puts a big blower in the doorway to the basement and it actually keeps his house at a decent temp.
When the A/C dies I plan to replace it and the electric furnace with a water source heat pump and take advantage of that ground water.
My dad has a friend who gets a foot of water in his basement all irrigation season long. He is not allergic to mold so he takes advantage of it. He puts a big blower in the doorway to the basement and it actually keeps his house at a decent temp.
Full Throttle
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2011
- Messages
- 285
hydronic cooling system like you speak of making will not work. You have to supply with cooler than 50 degree water to do any work. Chilled water systems operate at 44-40 degree water temps.
Geothermal systems utilize the 52* ground water temp as a condenser that takes place of the air to air condenser in your house, still has a compressor and refrigerant supplying an evaporator coil.
It won't work
Geothermal systems utilize the 52* ground water temp as a condenser that takes place of the air to air condenser in your house, still has a compressor and refrigerant supplying an evaporator coil.
It won't work
hydronic cooling system like you speak of making will not work. You have to supply with cooler than 50 degree water to do any work. Chilled water systems operate at 44-40 degree water temps.
Geothermal systems utilize the 52* ground water temp as a condenser that takes place of the air to air condenser in your house, still has a compressor and refrigerant supplying an evaporator coil.
It won't work
I've had two or three customers with chilled water A coils above their furnace receiving well water with no other cooling, one simply dumped the "waste" water and I think the other was plumbed to the sprinkler system. Both systems did provide some cooling but not to the extent of a normal A/C, both of these systems have been replaced by conventional A/Cs.
A ground water system can provide some cooling from what I've seen but don't do nearly as well at removing humidity as a normal A/C.
Keep in mind that running a well pump all the time will use power, it's not a free ride.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
Full Throttle is right. Find a used A/C unit ... I think any small air to air will work ... and figure out a way to get the hot cool in water. Then run the water through it. The 52* water will pull tons of BTU out of your garage, pull the humidity out, and it will be cool. You might need an A/C guy to replumb and recharge the Freon lines.
Just plain well water won't give you the temp differential you need. You can experiment using a radiator of some kind run the cold water in and put a fan on won side. Measure the temp in and the temp out and see the temp differential.
Look for a racer in your area that might have an old aluminum racing radiator that doesn't leak to try it with.
Not saying it won't work, just thinking it might not. Use the racing radiator as a proof of concept.
Just plain well water won't give you the temp differential you need. You can experiment using a radiator of some kind run the cold water in and put a fan on won side. Measure the temp in and the temp out and see the temp differential.
Look for a racer in your area that might have an old aluminum racing radiator that doesn't leak to try it with.
Not saying it won't work, just thinking it might not. Use the racing radiator as a proof of concept.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
Thanks for all of the ideas!
Keep us posted now. Don't hesitate to tell us what you're up to and ask opinions and for guidance! Good luck!