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myv65 · 10-02-2002, 04:17 PM

"Don't cross the streams." Now that was a classic scene.

Anyway, where you locate an accumulator does not matter. It has no effect on system flow rate or relative pressure drop. All it does is allow you to artificially increase the absolute pressure everywhere in the system.

I've never considered one for water cooling. We always used them on our hydraulic power skids as a means to absorb pressure spikes and to keep supply pressure fairly constant under varying loads when using pressure compensated pumps. It's common to have big ones on homes with wells and in the States you can buy them at any home improvement store. What you'd be seeking is considerably smaller. I am unaware of a ready-made one, so you'd probably have to make your own.

What you would need is a short length of PVC pipe with solvent-welded end caps. At the bottom, you'd have to make a connection to a T in your tubing. Since no flow goes through the line, the size is irrelevant. On the top end cap, you'd need a normal tire air valve (Schrader - spelling???). Alternatively, you could have a second port connected to a pressure gauge.

You fill the pipe partially with water, then pressurize the air space to a few psi (1/3 to 1/2 bar). That's all there is to it. As temperatures change, the pressure will also change a little. This should be no concern so long as the system remains air tight. At some point, you'll likely need to "pump it up" to maintain your cavitation-free operation. Just don't run much higher than you need to as this raises the pressure on all your fittings.

[edit start]
So long as you already have an airtrap, you could simply pressurize it. It would still function as before, but also gives you ready-to-use accumulator if you add a tire valve. Good luck.
[edit end]

10-02-2002, 04:17 PM	#27
myv65 Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2002 Location: home Posts: 365	"Don't cross the streams." Now that was a classic scene. Anyway, where you locate an accumulator does not matter. It has no effect on system flow rate or relative pressure drop. All it does is allow you to artificially increase the absolute pressure everywhere in the system. I've never considered one for water cooling. We always used them on our hydraulic power skids as a means to absorb pressure spikes and to keep supply pressure fairly constant under varying loads when using pressure compensated pumps. It's common to have big ones on homes with wells and in the States you can buy them at any home improvement store. What you'd be seeking is considerably smaller. I am unaware of a ready-made one, so you'd probably have to make your own. What you would need is a short length of PVC pipe with solvent-welded end caps. At the bottom, you'd have to make a connection to a T in your tubing. Since no flow goes through the line, the size is irrelevant. On the top end cap, you'd need a normal tire air valve (Schrader - spelling???). Alternatively, you could have a second port connected to a pressure gauge. You fill the pipe partially with water, then pressurize the air space to a few psi (1/3 to 1/2 bar). That's all there is to it. As temperatures change, the pressure will also change a little. This should be no concern so long as the system remains air tight. At some point, you'll likely need to "pump it up" to maintain your cavitation-free operation. Just don't run much higher than you need to as this raises the pressure on all your fittings. [edit start] So long as you already have an airtrap, you could simply pressurize it. It would still function as before, but also gives you ready-to-use accumulator if you add a tire valve. Good luck. [edit end] Last edited by myv65; 10-02-2002 at 05:46 PM.