heat transfer properties

[r0ckstarbob]

out of these choices, what has the best heat transfer properties? i know water has the best heat transfer properties of almost anything and that when treated with WaterWetter it's even better, but i have to cut the water with a solution to keep it from freezing at -27F (-32C). if you know a solution ratio, that would be helpful too.

the choices are

Ethanol (grain alcohol)
Methanol (wood alcohol)
Isopropyl (rubbing alcohol)
Antifreeze

[Thelemac]

I'm not positive on which one has the best thermal properties...but there must be a reason that automakers suggest antifreeze, right?

By the by, are you using a chiller setup?

[r0ckstarbob]

yeeeah. kinda. sorry to be vague but i feel bad for going on and on about it here on the forums. seems like everytime i make a post on a thread i have to throw somethin in about it so am trying to tame it back a bit and just ask specific questions as they come up (providing i can't find an answer on the web).

for the purposes of this it goes like this though. one 4 gallon copper reservoir in a subzero s00per cold freezer. liquid temp inside the reservoir is at -27F (-32C) or better. the solution can't ice up for obvious reasons.

and just a note, i threw antifreeze in there as a control answer more then anything. it actually has the worst heat transfer properties out of all of them. it's good at insulating water from boiling and freezing but is very poor at heat transfer from what i understand. it's practically "temperature-inert" for the purposes of this.

the more antifreeze you use, the worse the heat transfer properties of your water.

[r0ckstarbob]

very nice overclock by the way (just noticed your sig)

42. the answer to life the universe and everything.

may he rest in peace.

[dimmreaper]

Originally posted by r0ckstarbob
Ethanol (grain alcohol)
Methanol (wood alcohol)Actually:

Ethanol is any kind of alcohol made through the fermentation of sugar (it can be organic or synthetic sugar).

Methanol is typically a petrolium by-product, however there are other ways of making it.

[dimmreaper]

I'm pretty sure automotive anti-freeze is the best, but I may be wrong. I've run straight anti-freeze in automotive cooling systems before, without having overheating problems.

I think the optimal solution would be like 6:1 water:anti-freeze then add whatever the water-wetter package recomends you use of it.

[adamtekh]

he he 42

yeah i do belive 20 % anti frezz 80 % water ;)

[Sonny]

I really can't comment on thermal properties of the diff solutions that you have posted BUT, do you guys know that anti-freeze DO HAVE some minute solid particles in them that can destroy water pumps in cars? It wouldn't be much of a difference with the water pumps being used for watercooling.