Seawater air conditioning

[Ironman162]

Has anyone had any experience with using seawater for an air cooler?

Ive noticed a system where seawater is tanken in through the hull and pumped through a radiator of sorts. A fan then circulates the air to create a cool breeze.

Wonder if it would be possible to retro fit as as a diy ptoject?

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[StuM]

Check out Cruisair marine air conditioners. That's what I put in my cat

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[Ironman162]

Thanks for your reply, hope its available in Australia! I'll have a look!

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[StuM]

Originally Posted by Ironman162

Thanks for your reply, hope its available in Australia! I'll have a look!

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Mine was installed at Coomera on the Gold Coast

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[Canibul]

Surface sea water here is about 83 deg. F at the moment. How would one of those air cons work at that temp?

[Ironman162]

I have no idea...the deeper the better presumably. ..it does work in Australia though ..hence my enquiry

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[BriaF]

If it's hot enough to need aircon then the sea water temp is likely to be hot enough to render the system ineffective (useless)
The way to go is to use a domestic inverter split system, a make a cover for the out door unit to protect it from rain & seawater when not in use.
A small one will run on a Honda 2kva generator or similar.
Have seen many yachts with this set up, also many commercial small ships as well.
These work well. Have seen many used in temps as high as 48c

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Surface sea water here is about 83 deg. F at the moment. How would one of those air cons work at that temp?

Water is a better medium for heat exchange than air. When you notice how well a "window" air conditioner works with the air at 83 degrees F, then the marine air conditioners would do better with water at 83 degrees F. I've been aboard for about thirty summers using a seawater heat-exchanging system in Florida with the water at similar temperatures and air in the nineties. Heat exchange with water is far better than with air.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Surface sea water here is about 83 deg. F at the moment. How would one of those air cons work at that temp?

Works fine for me in Port Moresby at that temperature. The hot side of the heat exchanger is well above that so seawater at that temperature is still able to carry away plenty of heat. Think about your air cooled aircon when the air temperature is in the 90s and above. And water is more efficient than air at taking the heat away.


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[StuM]

Originally Posted by BriaF

If it's hot enough to need aircon then the sea water temp is likely to be hot enough to render the system ineffective (useless)
The way to go is to use a domestic inverter split system, a make a cover for the out door unit to protect it from rain & seawater when not in use.
A small one will run on a Honda 2kva generator or similar.
Have seen many yachts with this set up, also many commercial small ships as well.
These work well. Have seen many used in temps as high as 48c

Nonsense.

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[Canibul]

We've got a Rich Beers Marine system that came with the boat that uses raw water to cool the compressor already. I've been thinking of adding a second system, but wondering if this is the best approach. The air and water are very close in temp here.

[BriaF]

Stum is see you are not speaking from experience.
An also calling me a liar.


Explain your self!!!!!!!!

What I said is what I have personally observed on a hundred plus vessels
Plus have been an at least half that number to experience for myself their efficacy.

So if it is nonsense explain why that is so ??????

[BriaF]

Stum if you paid attention to the original post you would see
That he is talking about feeding warm sea water through
Something like a radiator then blowing air through it to
Cool the boat.
He was not talking about sea water cooled aircon
Yes sea water cooling would be more effective than air
But with that come fouling of internal sea water passages
My original post stands as FACT
Unless you can provide reasoned debate .
But what I said is what I have personally observed
& experienced
So please mind your manners

[transmitterdan]

BriaF,

It is "nonsense" because installing an indoor/outdoor domestic aircon on a 30 foot sailboat is impractical. For a small ship this might work but for a cruising sailboat is all but impossible.

In many parts of the world the seawater is well below air temps. So in those areas a simple heat exchanger cooled with seawater can work.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by BriaF

Stum if you paid attention to the original post you would see
That he is talking about feeding warm sea water through
Something like a radiator then blowing air through it to
Cool the boat.
He was not talking about sea water cooled aircon ........................

So please mind your manners

I'd like to remind all to be careful to remain polite.

Confusion was introduced in the original post when the question was posed about blowing air over simple coils of seawater for cooling; however, the diagram shown in the first post included a compressor.

Please remain respectful of a wide variety of interpretations.