Originally posted by Fiveflat
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Supreme Tigé Master
- Apr 2007
- 12007
- Lake Carl Blackwell, Stilly, USA
- 54 Bellcraft, 56 Burchcraft, 61 LoneStar, 75 Catalina 27
At the very first of my sailboat build, I decided that I wanted to goof around and see if I could successfully build an air conditioner system that was not evaporative, (i.e. swamp cooler ) in nature. I want to be able to use a closed loop of refrigerant that would be pumped through a heat exchanger that I could blow air over to cool. The device would hopefully chill the air enough to dry the air, resulting in the need for a condensation drain, just like a modern AC. The cold source would be simple ice.
Yesterday I started..... *bwaaaa haaa haaaa haaaa*, (mad scientist laugh)
Here is the bill of materials so far:
1 plastic battery box
1 copper automotive heater core
some scrap sheet ABS, (.250" thickness)
Spare sanitary plumbing hose, 3/4"
1 spare bilge pump
1 spare big cube ice chest
1 spare bilge blower from parts donor boat
bilge blower tubing from parts donor boat.
My plan so far:
What I am doing first is to create a heat exchanger box from the battery box, scrap ABS, and heater core. Once I have that built, I will plumb it with a supply and a return line. I will also install a small fitting in a low spot in the battery box for the condensation drain. The drain will go to the shower sum installed in the boat previously.
I will use the donated exhaust blower hose to plumb the boat for air duct and return. I will keep these runs as short as possible. The heat exchanger will sit in the port lazz, on the shelf created by the installation of my modified galley/wetbar. It will be connected to the boat interior by a very short length of hose, or I might just cut a hole through the galley/wetbar back splash and pull the heat exchanger up tight to it, with a vent grill of some sorts for a finished cosmetic.
The cold source, (ice in an ice chest) will be mounted just aft of the heat exchanger in the port lazz. The donated bilge pump will sit in the bottom of the ice chest, and wil be connected up to the heat exchanger core by a short length of the sanitray hose, (you don't need sanitary hose, but that is what I have), and the return from the heat exchanger core will simply return to the ice chest.
I will fit a ball valve drain on the ice chest drain plug, and it will drain into the shower sump, either with a separate fitting, or combined with the heat exchanger's condensation line.
A simple switch will energize the pump and the fan, turning the system on. I may find that either a thermostatic switch or a rheostat might come in handy to control the amount of cooling, allowing the ice to last longer than if left running full time.
I have attached pics off my start on building the heat exchanger. As you can see it is simple, but I believe it is no more simple than any heat exchanger. Hot side, core, cold side....
A bonus benefit I perceive is that if this works, I have an opportunity to extend the plumbing and be able to tap the engine cooling line for winter sailing and be able to provide heating to the cabin in wintertime. Granted it will requrie running the motor, but there are other ways to heat water too...
Am I nuts?Last edited by philwsailz; 06-17-2011, 06:08 PM.It's not an optical illusion.
It just looks like one.....
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