Answer
Jan 10, 2021 - 02:21 PM
Halogenated fluids, such as Novec, differ from ElectroCool Dielectric Coolants in many important ways.
All ElectroCool Dielectric Coolants are clear and colorless. They don’t have any smell. They have excellent electrical and heat transfer capabilities. But, as I’ve mentioned in blog posts, the really difficult part of immersion cooling is choosing a dielectric fluid that has the right material compatibility characteristics and the right Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) profile.
ElectroCool Coolants are nontoxic and biodegradable. They’re not bioaccumulative, unlike fluorinated “forever chemicals”. These fluids are part of a family of Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl substances (PFAs) and are being regulated because of their lack of degradation pathways (https://www.engineeredfluids.com/post/are-pfas-the-next-pcbs).
You’ll notice that the ElectroCool weighs about half as much as the fluorocarbon fluids; and since the surface tension is higher, there’s less tendency to find every pinhole leak in your system.
Here is a comparison of key characteristics, looking at ElectroCool EC-120 Dielectric Coolant and Novec FC-3282, a fluorinated fluid often used as a single-phase dielectric coolant:Characteristics | Novec | ElectroCool | Notes |
Appearance | Clear, colorless | Clear, colorless | ElectroCool is colorless and odorless |
Temp Range, C. | -65 to 128 | -60 to 180C |
|
Boiling Point, @ 1 atm, C. | 128 | No boiling point | Our coolants will thermally decompose at about 350C., without boiling |
Pour Point, C. | -65 | -60 | ElectroCool exhibits a “Newtonian” pour point, and will not form crystals at the pour point, unlike fluorocarbons |
Critical Temp, Calculated, C. | 235 | none | ElectroCool will thermally decompose before boiling |
Critical Pressure Calculated, Pa. | 1.22E+06 | None |
|
Vapor Pressure, Pa. | 1.44E+03 | Extremely low | Engineered Fluids can provide vapor pressure data throughout the useful temperature range |
Latent Heat of Vap., kJ/kg | 78 | N/A | ElectroCool Coolants will not boil at standard pressure |
Liquid Density, kg/m3 | 1820 | 800 | ElectroCool weighs less than half as much as fluorinaged fluids |
Kinematic Viscosity, cSt. | 0.75 | 16@40C | |
Specific Heat, | 1100 | 2206 | ElectroCool has over twice the specific heat per unit mass. |
Thermal Conductivity | 0.066 | 0.14 | ElectroCool has over twice the Thermal Conductivity per unit. |
Coefficient of Expansion /C | 0.0014 | .00065 |
|
Surface Tension, dy/cm | 14.6 | 24 dy/cm |
|
Refractive Index | 1.28 | 1.453 |
|
Flash Pt, C. | none | 228 C |
|
Dielectric Strength, 0.1” gap | 40 kV | >60 kV |
|
Dielectric Constant @1KHz. | 1.9 | 2.2 |
|
Resistivity | 1.00E+15 | 1.00E+14 |
|
Ozone Depletion Potential | 9000 | 0 |
|
Material Composition | PFC | SHC |
|
Biodegradable | 0% | >90% | ElectroCool products are highly biodegradable and not toxic to marine organisms. |
Food Grade | No | Yes | ElectroCool products have been evaluated by NSF and given the Food Grade Classification |
Toxicity | Toxic | No | Non-toxic to marine animals and not toxic to workers |
Classified as PerFlouoro Alkyl Substance (PFAs)? | Yes | No | PFAs are a group of fluorinated chemicals that are called “Forever Chemicals” because they do not degrade naturally. |
Regulatory Activity | Current | None | PFAs are being regulated because of their bioaccumulation and toxicity. |
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