looking for a liquid with specific properties...

[CTho9305]

anyone know of a nonpolar liquid with a specific gravity very similar to that of water? ideally it would have a color too. the idea is to mix it with water in a watercooler, since it wouldnt' actually mix with the water, making the flow visible through the tubing

 

[Buzzman151]

acetone or denature alcohol..... well I'm pretty sure if they're polor but I dont' think that I would use them If I were you..... a little of that leaking in your case while its on.... BOOM!!!!! No more case



if you dont' want to kill yourself and want something that is non polor... try using some sort of mineral oil as long as your pump can handle it.... the oil might change your performance a bit b/c it doesn't disspate heat as fast as H2O but it would look sweet as hell if you got some red or blue mineral oil to put in there w/ you water

 

[CTho9305]

unfortunately mineral oil is at most .88 the density of water, and acetone is even less, so they'd most likely sit at the highest parts of the system, reducing the water flow noticeably

 

[Buzzman151]

<< unfortunately mineral oil is at most .88 the density of water, and acetone is even less, so they'd most likely sit at the highest parts of the system, reducing the water flow noticeably
>>



partially incorrect..... the water flow would decrease b/c of the higher VISCOSITY of the oil, not b/c it floats on top of the water. As long as you have a good pump... the water flow will not be affected that much. You would be fine w/ the flow; its just your heat absorbancy that would be affected. If my memory hasn't failed me, oil's thermal conductivity is lower than that of water, so in the same amount of time, the oil is going to absorb and let off less heat, lowering the effiency of your water cooling system. It never hurts to try it out, it might look cool as hell but if your performance drops too much, forget it.... if you want some neato effects, find some synthetic water colors that won't break down due to 120 degrees F or so. That'll get the ladies go'in for ya

 

[CTho9305]

<< partially incorrect..... the water flow would decrease b/c of the higher VISCOSITY of the oil, not b/c it floats on top of the water.[/a]
I think that if you have a blob of oil at the highest point in your system, regardless of viscosity, it would somewhat impede the flow of water. But yes, viscosity would be another issue.

 

[mechBgon]

If the pump is moving the liquids around fast enough, I'm pretty sure the oil would be entrained in the flow despite the difference in specific gravity, as long as the radiator's outlet is at the top. As for the cooling ramifications, not sure what impact it would have... but I see your goal, which is to have blobs of colored stuff cruising around.

 

[JameyF]

I would also look for a liquid that's got a good amount of cohesive and little adhesive (sp?) properties. This would give you the blobbing effect (ever drop mercury on the floor?). Running a pump fast enough to circulate oil/mineral spirits and water together is likely to suck everything up and mix it too much...kinda like an Italian salad dressing. You're right in looking for something much closer to water's specific gravity. Call up a local chemistry professor/teacher. Make sure it's a real geeky one. You might get what you need from a local high school lab for free along with more info than you can digest

EDIT: I just had a brainstorming idea...

What if you set up two reservoirs, one higher than the other, but still connected. Use the pump to suck out of each at the same time. The liquids would run around together, but when they circulate back to the reservoirs...they seperate and the oil/mineral spirits with move to the higher reservoir. Thought on this?

 

[CTho9305]

<< I would also look for a liquid that's got a good amount of cohesive and little adhesive (sp?) properties. This would give you the blobbing effect (ever drop mercury on the floor?). Running a pump fast enough to circulate oil/mineral spirits and water together is likely to suck everything up and mix it too much...kinda like an Italian salad dressing. You're right in looking for something much closer to water's specific gravity. Call up a local chemistry professor/teacher. Make sure it's a real geeky one. You might get what you need from a local high school lab for free along with more info than you can digest

EDIT: I just had a brainstorming idea...

What if you set up two reservoirs, one higher than the other, but still connected. Use the pump to suck out of each at the same time. The liquids would run around together, but when they circulate back to the reservoirs...they seperate and the oil/mineral spirits with move to the higher reservoir. Thought on this? >>



thats a pretty interesting idea. If I get around to it, I might just try regular oil and see if it does in fact stick anywhere

 

[kursplat]

any kind of oil mixed with water is going to start "foaming" when you start whiping it with a good pump. just try a pint in your cars engine.
somthing with a silicon base might work...