Could Peltier-ice cooling be effective?
Could Peltier-ice cooling be effective?
The concept involves placing a mineral oil-filled case with a peltier device on one side, using a container of water in another, freezing it, and connecting them. This setup aims to transform thermal energy into electricity by periodically replacing the ice block.
In most situations, any cooling below ambient isn't feasible. The reduction in cooling to the surrounding air will occur steadily. Unless you're in a vacuum designed to keep things cold, you end up using energy, creating lots of condensation, and causing problems.
These kinds of things are useful for short tests, to demonstrate something or reach a special number, but they shouldn't be repeated.
A brief chance to boast.
Costs, dampness, lost time.
What exactly drives the need for this?
If it's a hobby, fine—do it.
For improved performance? Probably not. Unless you define 'performance' in terms of temperature instead of frames per second or something similar.
You'd likely achieve better outcomes by renting a freezer for a few days.
kanewolf :
Anything below ambient cooling isn't practical in most situations. The reduction of cooling to the surrounding air will occur steadily. Unless you were in a vacuum to keep your cold isolated, you simply consume energy, create a lot of condensation, and cause a mess. You can use a square thermos for that, and the sealed container ensures any condensate stays inside. The electricity produced can then be connected back to the power supply...
USAFRet:
These kinds of things happen occasionally—useful for testing ideas, proving something, or getting that special boost. Just don’t repeat them.
Short-term pride, some extra work, and lost time.
What exactly are you aiming for here?
If you enjoy it as a hobby, go for it.
For improved performance? Probably not. Unless you define it differently—like checking temperature instead of FPS.
You’d likely do better by renting a freezer for a few days.
Honestly, cost isn’t really a big concern... If you already have one running, making ice won’t be expensive. And with a big enough container, it could even make sense.
Well, I don't think cost is a big concern... If your freezer is already running, making ice won't be too expensive. And with a big enough container, it might even make sense... This comment comes from someone who doesn't really grasp how a regular home freezer functions. The 'expense' here was probably related to building this low-quality version. Mineral oil + ice + Peltier + PC doesn't seem quite logical. Besides, aside from a hobby project (which is fine on its own), what are you aiming for with this?
USAFRet:
The idea seems a bit unclear regarding costs. If you already have a freezer operating, making ice won’t be very expensive. And with a sufficiently large container, it might not be too bad... Though this perspective comes from someone who doesn’t fully grasp how a standard home freezer functions. The real cost was likely tied to constructing this low-quality device. Using mineral oil, ice, a Peltier unit, and a PC doesn’t seem quite sensible. Still... aside from a hobby project (which is fine on its own), what are you aiming for here? Instead of chasing numbers, this setup would need no moving parts. I’m after total quietness, not just reduced noise. It should work without needing to operate at low temps.
MEMESEY :
Instead of searching for numbers, this machine would lack moving components. I aim for total quietness, not just reduced volume. It doesn’t need to operate at low temperatures, only that absolute silence is achieved.
In some way, you must still eliminate heat from the oil tank. A block of ice attached to the side won’t suffice.
You’ll require a pump (producing noise) to move the heat elsewhere.
A quiet PC can be built in a soundproof enclosure beneath your desk. A single large fan with low RPM will effectively dissipate the heat from that unit.
USAFRet suggests avoiding mechanical components by focusing on total quietness. The goal is absolute silence, not just reduced sound levels. It’s not necessary for the system to operate at low temperatures, only that complete quiet is achieved. Heat from the oil tank must still be managed; a simple ice block won’t suffice. A pump with noise will be required to move heat elsewhere. A silent setup can be built in a soundproof enclosure beneath your desk, using a single large fan at low speed to dissipate warmth. A Peltier device isn’t ideal here because it demands a steady flow of high heat on one side and low on the other, which still involves energy transfer. Therefore, if much of the energy is converted to electricity and removed, the ice will melt more slowly. This approach would allow a silent PC with no moving parts, provided the containers can be easily replaced.