Day 1: "The Briefing"
Location: NZ Hideout
Time: 10:00 AM

 

There was argument as to whether what sort of cooling we would use for this sequel.  The intercooler with pump was definitely out of the question as we would just use the same FC-40 we used in the last experiment.  Initially we thought of just making the intercooler's bore a bit bigger but we later realized it is impossible to pump that Fluorinert once it hits its pour point.   Plus the thought of total liquid nitrogen immersion also crossed our minds.  So we wanted a setup that is upgradeable during the experiment should we decide to proceed with total LN2 immersion.  But to do that we need to do the cooling gradually so that the board and everything in it would not be thermally shocked with the extremity of LN2's temp. You see,we needed to do it slowly for the board to adjust.  In the end we came up with the combination of Fluorinert, dry ice pellets and LN2.  The dry ice would serve as our initial coolant that will gradually cool the board and prepare it for the LN2.
 

Getting "The Stuff"

  • FLUORINERT- this was easy as we already have the 2 gallons we used in the last experiment.  The same FC-40 with a pour point of -57C.

  • DRY ICE- Well we don't know how much we'll use so just to be on the safe side we ordered heaps of them.  If at the end there's still a lot, then the kids will have a ball.  The big kids not the small kids. hehe.

  • LIQUID NITROGEN- Now this time we acquired a 30L dewar to hold our LN2.  We found out last time that 10L wouldn't cut it.

  • ALUMINUM BLOCK- This was what we forgot during the briefing.  In the first submersion project we didn't use anything in the core.  A heatsink would have been good for heat transfer and beneficial for retaining the cold longer.  So this time we'll make use of an aluminum block as our heatsink and for something else which you will find out later.

  • THE HOUSING- We made use of our old polystyrene box.  It still is our best material for the sort of things that were gonna put the rig through.

  • Silicone Tubings

  • Neoprene Sheets

  • Clamps

  • Thermometers


Next:Preparations

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