[Amps] Liquid Cooling Systems

[Gary Smith]

This may be somewhat basic, but salt in itself is corrosive.  When I was deep into building (and rebuilding) water cooled engines, those that had either a glycol based additive or some other form of rust inhibitor the cooling passage ways showed little or no signs of corrosion.  Those that had been operated with water only, the passageways were often thick with rust, corrosion and scale.

When no need for an anti-freeze was indicated, a slight amount of soluble oil was added to the coolant.  The soluble oil was easy to find, all that had to been done was go to the auto parts store and ask for "water pump lubricant."

If I were to operate a water cooled tube, I wouldn't mind at all answering the question as to "what is that  white stuff in the water?" (the soluble oil) rather than explain why there was one double HH of an explosion when the cooling water hit the white hot elements inside of the very expensive and now destroyed transmitting tube.

Pardon the long explanation, (that is my personal downfall,) some of it not directly aimed and amps and such, but a better understanding of why, Imo,  beats the dickens out of I wish someone had given me more info.  

73,
Gary... wa6fgi

     
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Smith 
  To: amps at contesting.com 
  Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 9:44 PM
  Subject: Re: [Amps] Liquid Cooling Systems


  I'm certainly very interested in this discussion as I'm contemplating a
   water-cooled 23cm amp project shortly.

  > ... In both applications you are trying to increase the heat  transfer
  > into and out of a liquid. You don't really  need a
  > USE-IN-TRANSMITTING-TUBES-ONLY  label on a  product to use it in a liquid 
  > cooled tube..

   One thing that you do need to consider in cooling a tube amp is the
   conductivity of the coolant.  It's not a concern in a race car, but when
   there's 4kV+ at the cooler, it certainly IS a concern in an amp.  This 
  rules
   out any use of salt.  Does anyone know if Glycol or "Water Wetter" makes 
  the
   solution conductive at all?

   There's also corrosion problems to consider.  As I understand, Glycol-based
   coolants also contain corrosion inhibitors.  Would corrosion be an issue in
   an amp using just distilled water?

   Regards,
  Dave
  VK3HZ

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