Water Cooling Computers With a Swimming Pool

Written by: Alan Parekh at 11:05 am. Filed under Computer Hacks, Digg, Insane Equipment

Looks like this may be a new form of pool heating.

“This rig has been running successfully since 8/06 (knock knock). Computers have been easily swapped out without the need to shut down the pump or any other computers on the line. There is no perceptible temperature difference in the water returned to the pool. However, every machine on the line happily operates somewhere between 30 – 40 C depending on the water temperature. Most of the fans in each machine have either been removed or disconnected making it much quieter. Additionally, the entire room is cooler without the need for air conditioning. Success!

In the future, I’d like to investigate the possibility of using pool water to improve the efficiency of the air conditioner by removing the fan and submerging the heat exchanger. Quieter, cooler, more energy efficient air during the summer as well as warmer water! ”

10 Responses to “Water Cooling Computers With a Swimming Pool”

Watercooling Says:
July 27th, 2007
Great Idea! No Noise from the pumps and the radiator. The only thing I would change is this plexi/copper waterblock. I dont trust plexi from taiwaneese manufactors
aquabot Says:
September 27th, 2007
If you go that far you might as well consider cooling the external coil of a decent size AC with pool water. In fact the mod is quite easy. You rip out the housing, chuck the fan out, pack the coil in a tank and hook up a pump to the relay used to drive the fan. One of my dad friends in Russia had done that in his summer house for household hot water. He used the fridge external coil to preheat the water before the boiler unit. Worked quite well actually.
David Wilbur Says:
June 24th, 2008
Very interesting idea. I wonder why that isn’t used in server rooms more. “Back in the day” mainframes were water-cooled with large outdoor cooling towers. If you ever move, you could build one of these: http://www.davidwilbur.com/node/6
massivemutant.com Says:
June 27th, 2008
What a good idea.
sikanrong Says:
October 23rd, 2008
Yeah, I love it. the fact that I could actually bathe in my CPU’s leftover thermal energy would just make a swim that much more appetizing
coldnight Says:
October 26th, 2008
I know of a sports center with an ice rink and a giant swimpool, they exchange the heat out of the ice into the pool. Very nice building, too.
Alf Inge Says:
November 10th, 2008
Hei this hack is just fantastic! I love it, and you have done a great job to…

Alf Inge
Justin Says:
February 5th, 2009
Nice. The air conditioning mod would be nice as well.
lol Says:
February 11th, 2009
LOL superb idea

just becareful when ur swimming, all that copper could poison u lol
Harry Says:
August 29th, 2011
This is awesome, no need the radiator and soundproof also.