Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

Presently I am running Water Only @ 14psi @ 45C Air temps without Intercooler.

I came into an idea of using a phase change cooler fixed to a Maze Aluminium Water Block. The block will be divided in two sections, one water/meth flow and the other fuel flow. This way fuel will also be cooled.

Water In will come from Water injection pump out to nozzle while Fuel In will come from Fuel pump out to fuel rail.

The chiller goes to -60C on the block in just 2minutes without heat sources with ambient temp of 27DegC.

-Water will freeze in 30sec @ 0DegC
-Water/Meth mix 50/50 will freeze in 1 minute @ -35DegC
-Gasoline freezes @ -45DegC
-Straight Meth Does not show symptoms of freezing @ -60DegC

Temperatures were tried and tested in real time using an laser temp gun.

The chiller work with 230V A/C power so a power inverter is needed to operate it. You don't want any of the liquids to freeze so the chiller will be operated via a digital temperature controller that the user sets switch off temp via a high power relay.

When using only water cutoff will be set at 5DegC
When using 50%water/50%meth cutoff will be set at -30DegC
When using 30%water/70%meth cutoff will be set at -40DegC

Presently I have an issue starting the chiller with the Inverter going overload at startup. I need to check whether the 2000W inverter is capable or else there is a need of a better battery or capictor/stabilizer.

Project will be done within the next weeks so any suggestions are appreciated prior to completing setup.

Re: Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

Are you chilling the water prior to injection? It is more effective to cool the air by evaporation than chilling the water. The viscosity of water increases at lower temperature resulting in bigger droplet sizes during atomisation.

There is no harm to continue the project as life is full of surprises.

Re: Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

Plans are changed to chill the water directly into tank instead of using a waterchill block. The Chiller block will be located about 1 litre off the bottom of the tank.

Presently I am doing some tests with water and meth mixtures to test cooling efficiency. I am also testing with 5Litres / 4Litres / 3Litres / 2Litres liquid. Off course the less the liquid, the greater the cooling efficiency.

I will post results when they are ready in the meantime here is the chiller block that will be used http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IplbKlobw0

Re: Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

Do post up the results please.

Re: Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

Here is the result of the first test using Water/Meth 50_50MIX.

Room Temp 27C

Water/Meth Mix Temp 30C

Re: Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THE FIRS TEST

Re: Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

Did the mixture crystallise?

Does anyone run water-methanol/methanol injection during winter with ambient temperatures reaching -35C?

Re: Subzero Temps on Water/Meth Injection
 

Today tested the setup @ 4DegC Tank mixture and for several runs got same results compared to a 32DegC tank temp.

Conclusion :

The theory of cooling the tank temperature with any means of cooling will not gain any decrease in inlet temperatures. The setup works with pressure and pressure generate heat to get the mixture to mist. Although this was known from the beginning, I thought that I would be able to vaporize a mist cooler by cooling the mixture itself.

In my opinion now, the better the atomaization of the mist the better the cooling. So that makes 200psi pressure and a 300cc nozzle better cooling when compared to a 150psi pressure and a 300cc nozzle at the same flow rate. When I say better I don't know how much better would that net but I would like to hear opinions or actual tests.

Another thing, if the injection works with heat and pressure, would having a hotter tank mixture actually helps ?