Bong cooling
From TPU Reference
Bong cooling, otherwise known as evaporative cooling, is an alternative to water cooling, which takes advantage of water's evaporative properties.
Every water molecule in a cooling system is at a different temperature. The water temperature in a system is the average of the temperatures of each individual molecule. Since hotter molecules have a greater probability to evaporate than cooler ones, any molecules over the evaporation point will turn to gas. As a result, the water temperature will reduce to the average of the remaining lower temperatures. While the effect is minimal, if a large quantity of coolant is used, the cooling power can become very substantial.
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Typical Application
The bong portion itself is a replacement for the radiator in a cooling loop. Bongs are typically fairly long PVC pipes, usually around 4 inches in diameter and 4-5 feet tall. The top of the tower is fitted with an apparatus to disperse the water into a mist-like fall. As the water drops, the hottest molecules evaporate, leaving cooler water. The bong may contain mesh screens or ping pong balls to re-condense water, an addition which helps suppress the increased humidity a bong cooler adds to the room. Towards the bottom, there will sometimes be a fan blowing inwards, which even further enhances the cooling power.
Differences between Bong cooling and typical water cooling
- Typical water cooling loops are a closed system; bong systems are open systems.
- The liquid in a typical water cooling loop rarely needs to be changed or replaced, whereas the liquid in a bong cooler must be replenished regularly.
Advantages
- Bongs are very quiet, although the dripping water introduces a gentle waterfall noise.
- Bong cooling is much more effective than radiators for removing large volumes of heat from water, which makes it especially suited for use with TEC loops. The increased performance allows more powerful pumps to be used.
Disadvantages
- Humidity. If a bong cooler is in a closed room, the air's moisture content will increase substantially.
- Open system. Since bongs are open systems, any vertical pumping will detract from water pressure. As such, more powerful pumps may be needed. In addition, dust and other debris can be introduced into a loop.
- Water loss. Since bongs cool by evaporating water out of the system, the water that is lost must be replenished regularly to avoid damage to electronic components and cooling pumps. Reservoirs are often added to provide extra time between refills.
See also
Bongs or bong diagrams
