Frigoboat Keel Cooler in the tropics

[ColdEH]

Was going to use Nanpore , NanoPore Incorporated, they use to supply Glacier Bay with theres. The technology has gotten better, if I get 10 years I will be happy, but apparently these things are lasting longer then that , they are putting them in houses as well so they must be improving them.

This is another supplier, Thermal Visions is a world leader in research, development, and production of Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP).


There's a lot of information in this thread http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...els-54780.html

Regards

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by CarlF

Typhoon,

Where are you sourcing your vacuum panels? How thick is R60? Any sense of cost? Expected life?

Since Glacier Bay stopped making panels, I wasn't aware there was a good source for boat use.

Carl

Although it doesn't hurt to acheive R60, the gain is not that much more efficient than R40

[SV THIRD DAY]

Sure space limitations always come into play on a boat but on a Dollar per R-value basis it is sure hard to beat 1" or 2" PolyIsoCyanurate insulation in 4ft x 8ft sheets from Home depot for about $22ea. 4" to 5" and you will have a great cruising box.

[colemj]

I agree with this, and used it on a previous boat, but there is one caution. Polyisocyanurate is hygroscopic and will pick up water over time. So if you use it, encapsulate it in plastic or some other vapor barrier.

Other than that, I always wonder why everyone is so hot on blue board - they cost about the same, but one significantly outperforms the other.

Mark

[Celestialsailor]

Yup...I did 1" of aerogel around the box, wraped that in plastic, then f/g it. Inserted it in it's location, then poured Isocyanate pour foam anywhere from 3'-4"s I'm hoping the foam is far enough away from absorbing

[CAELESTIS]

Originally Posted by colemj

I agree with this, and used it on a previous boat, but there is one caution. Polyisocyanurate is hygroscopic and will pick up water over time. So if you use it, encapsulate it in plastic or some other vapor barrier.

Other than that, I always wonder why everyone is so hot on blue board - they cost about the same, but one significantly outperforms the other.

Mark

Which is better, blueboard or polyisocyanurate? I am thinking about this project myself using existing boxes make shallower with all new insulation and a new corian-type countertop.

[colemj]

Sorry I wasn't clear. Polyisocyanurate has almost double the insulation value per inch than polyurathane (blue/pink board).

Mark

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by colemj

Sorry I wasn't clear. Polyisocyanurate has almost double the insulation value per inch than polyurathane (blue/pink board).

Mark

I believe the blue/pink board you're referring to is extruded Polystyene. It is 4.5-5 R value per inch, while Polyisocyanate board has an R-value of 5,0 per inch.

[colemj]

If you say so. You are correct that I was referring to extruded polystyrene as polyurethane. However, a quick google search gave me several references of R5 for EPS and R8 for PIC. A quick run to Home Depot would probably tell.

Mark

[Celestialsailor]

Hi Mark...I received those numbers I quoted off the Internet when I was doing my box.

[gspeak]

We live in the tropics of North Queensland, Australia. When we decided to get rid of the old motor driven refrigeration system I did much research & eventually installed an Ozefridge eutectic system. The beauty of this is that it is both air & water cooled. The difference is that the water cooling recirculates water from one of our fresh water tanks avoiding any stray damaging currents or through hulls.

The water cooling does not come into contact with the refrigerant as it travels through dedicated pipes in the condenser. The water cooling pump, which is small & draws very little power, only kicks in when it is needed. We have had our system running non-stop for the past 18 months.

No connection with them, just a happy customer.

Dave

[Frigoboat Info]

[QUOTE=Richard Kollmann;1382270]

If it comes with spare O rings, this is not a good sign. What air cooled unit needs spare O ring seals or routine seal replacements?

It appears that Mr. Kollman still does not understand the reason for the inclusion of spare o-rings with Frigoboat refrigeration systems. These spare o-rings are included to be used in the event of damage to an o-ring during installation, and that is the only reason for their existence.
We include spare o-rings on all our systems, including air cooled systems, but they are only included to help an installer in the event of damage during installation.

[s/v Jedi]

I don't understand the commotion about the need to service a system every 5 years. My old Glacier Bay system needed service every week! The boats that have spend enough time in the tropics know it's better to keep heat outside the cabin. The others don't. This will never change.

[Celestialsailor]

[QUOTE=Frigoboat Info;1382960]

Originally Posted by Richard Kollmann

If it comes with spare O rings, this is not a good sign. What air cooled unit needs spare O ring seals or routine seal replacements?

It appears that Mr. Kollman still does not understand the reason for the inclusion of spare o-rings with Frigoboat refrigeration systems. These spare o-rings are included to be used in the event of damage to an o-ring during installation, and that is the only reason for their existence.
We include spare o-rings on all our systems, including air cooled systems, but they are only included to help an installer in the event of damage during installation.

People in this thread have stated they needed to replace them so how do you explain that?

[Frigoboat Info]

Under normal conditions, and if not distorted or damaged, the o-rings in Frigoboat couplings have a long and trouble-free life. The specifications for these o-rings were upgraded many years ago as there were occasional reports of leaks in extreme conditions. There are a large number of older systems in service with the original spec o-rings installed, but that have never had a problem with leaking o-rings. The current o-rings are unaffected by oils and refrigerants and have a working temperature range from -30C to 100C (-22F to 212F). The Frigoboat couplings should not see temperatures anywhere close to these extremes, except possibly if a Keel Cooled system is run out of the water without a temporary cooling solution. From our experience, we have heard of o-rings that have been suspected of leaking even though it was never definitively proven that they were. Many problems are often mis-diagnosed as refrigerant leaks, and it seems that the o-rings are typically the first target for suspicion if there’s no obvious damage. All one has to do is to run a finger around a coupling to see if there are any traces of clear refrigerant oil, as where refrigerant leaks out there will almost certainly be traces of oil.