What is considered a good heat transfer value?

**fatbastard**

I am by no means a high end user but recently at work we have been working with epoxy for a motor that requires heat transfer but also encapsulation of parts to protect from water intrusion. So now I am wondering if it would be possible to pot a mobo and submerge in a cooling fluid for those that really want to push the limit. If these epoxies can provide sufficient heat transfer you may get significantly more cooling since all components would be cooled. Has anyone tried this or thought about it? I am not even sure how expensive it would be to try on an old machine but figured I would throw the idea out there.

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3472

Yea, it's possible to do a submerged system. There's actually a company out there that's all that they do. Buy all kinds of hardware you want and can get it put into a liquid filled box. Can't think of the name of the company right now though.

**Jason** · Posted: Mon, 18 May 2009 15:50:26 Post Subject:

I've seen one system sunk in what I think was mineral oil.

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3472

Yup...

http://www.hardcorecomputer.com/ProductCategoryDetail_catDesktop_productReactor1.aspx

knight0334 · Posted: Mon, 18 May 2009 16:26:29 Post Subject:

x.clay · Posted: Mon, 18 May 2009 16:39:57 Post Subject:

the Reactor PCs use a "mineral-oil-like substance" Razz

The original mods that I have seen for this actually used mineral oil. It never seemed like that best idea to dunk your PC in any kind of liquid but maybe that's just me Smile

**fatbastard** · Posted: Mon, 18 May 2009 17:27:18 Post Subject:

Hmmm...at least I am not crazy for thinking about it. I know the epoxy we are using is very expensive but it does transmit heat well and does protect teh motor internals and sensors from water to the point we could flood the entire thing and it would be fine. So I figured the same could be done to a PC but I guess it would limit your ability to upgrade in teh future.

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3472

With this system I don't think they do anything different to the components from what you can buy off the shelf. It's non-conductive oil or whatever it is, so they don't need to worry about that.

I've not fully read up on it, and only going by what I remember when it was first talked about last year LOL So I could be WAY off base Razz

**Jason** · Posted: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:40:08 Post Subject:

Definitely mineral oil... I knew I had seen it and Google confirms plenty of examples. Like:

http://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php

Doesn't seem to be particularly flammable, either...

x.clay · Posted: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:18:48 Post Subject: