My External Modular Rad Box. Question Concerning Airflow.
 

Hello to all here. I have a question concerning airflow for the lastest revision of an external rad box I've been thinking on for some time. Budget has given be a quasi-green light for February, so I'm trying to come up with a final design.

I've posted concerning the rad box in general here at ProCooling (link), PCPerspective (link), and Silent PC Review (SPCR, link). The SPCR thread being the most current one.

Here's some pics to give you an idea of the evolution of the design in order from original concept to the latest design, Rev4.


Original Concept

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...1/af595a51.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...up_1_Thumb.jpg

Airflow
Intake: Front, Extake: Rear


Rev2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pt_1-17-05.png

More just of a brainstorm really, never a candidate for final

Airflow
Intake: Left Side, Extake: Right Side


Rev3b, Rev3

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/drcr1/Rev3b.png http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/drcr1/Rev3.png

Airflow
Intake: Sides, Extake: Rear



Rev4, latest as of posting

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/drcr1/Rev4.png

Airflow
Intake: Front, Extake: Rear


I really like a front extake as I am some what limited on the sides because of where the box will be used -- sandwiched between the desk and the wall -- and so I have returned to this arrangement with Rev4. I may drop the front intake radiator pictured in Rev4, but that's a side issue. I also plan on building Rev4 (if I do indeed accept this revision as my final, in a manner such than I can add on the two rear heatercores pictured in Rev3b.

My question is:

How hampered will the airflow be considering the two parallel interior fedco 2-734s are perpendicular to both the air intake and extake?


Specs
Box Dimensions: 24.5cm wide, 18-19cm (as tall as the highest component), 56cm deep (to accommodate all but the deepest of deep mid-towers).
Fans: 120x38mm AC Sunon A1123/A2123 HST. Read about it here. (i.e. Very low CFM, esp. to you guys here.)
Heatercores: The two parallel internals: fedco 2-734, Rev4 Front Intake: Unknown

Thanks,
DrCR

________

Here a few pics of my external box, it uses 2 77 chevy caprice heater cores.
http://www.crainconsulting.com/DSCF0037.jpg

another one

http://www.crainconsulting.com/DSCF0036.jpg

-Brandon

That's a sharp looking box Brandon! :) But it doesn't really help me. ;)

Still though, very nice indeed. Very professional looking.

DrCR

________

What exactly do you need to know..? I know my "box" was designed to have 4 120mm fans pull air thru the rads. however most people that I know that have these boxes only use 2, front and back. Again sucking air out of the box, forcing air from the outside thru fin matrix on the rads.


-Brandon
PS Thanks for the kind words DrCR.

Pansies, the both of you. Observe:
http://www.evilnet.net/~koan/case_mo...wer2/test1.jpg

:cool:

In all seriousness, I really like what I see of your implementation, Brandon. Would it be possible to get some shots of the internal arrangement?


DrCR: From what I understand from your drawings, revision 4 strikes me as a bit bizzare. What good reason do you have for putting 2 rads perpendicular to your airflow where practically no air will be passing through them? And is this for a multiple loop system? If not, why are you bothering with all the rads? Reduce the number and increase the size if you must, or you'll likely have pressure drop issues to deal with. Running that many rads in series honestly isnt going to get you much (if any) performance gain.

Anyway, I havent posted here in a while, so its nice to be back. :D

"In all seriousness, I really like what I see of your implementation, Brandon. Would it be possible to get some shots of the internal arrangement? "

Its not near finished its just a big ass empty box on the inside for now. I'm going to use either my exisiting Hydor L30, or I'm considering either the Iwaki 20, or the Panworld of the same size.

I'll take pictures though, I'm not quite satisfied with the current arrangement . I'm currently considering creating my own verison of the "box" and doing some things differently, however thats another discussion.

-Brandon

I wasnt pleased with mine in the end either. I'm presently redesigning it, but its taking more time than I would prefer.

Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for, thanks! :)

I'll go back to the Rev3a concept then and perhaps look for some really tall heatercores if the fedco 2-734s ever fail to do the trick.

Again, the reason, as I stated before, I went with "2 rads perpendicular to [my] airflow where practically no air will be passing through them" is because the box will sandwhiched between my desk and the wall. I may do a quasi Rev4 sans front heatercore and with open sides so there's airflow access via a front intake as well, not just the sides as in Rev3. Behold Rev4b


Rev4b

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/drcr1/Rev4b.png

Airflow
Intake: Front, Sides. Extake: Rear


DrCR

________

DrCR, What kind of pump are you going to be using? I have a pair of Hydor L30's I wanted to use. One for each rad, as of late the darn things are making hella noise and its the shafts that seem to be culprit. So now I'm looking into alternatives, like the Gen-X PCX30, or possibly one of the Little Giant pumps. What would you recommend?


Brandon

Here are pics of mine:

This one is with it almost completed
http://www.gregstiffler.com/toppump.jpg

This is the finished product
http://www.gregstiffler.com/IMG_4730.jpg

I have an Iwaki MD-20RTZ and that's what I would recommend. I looked at the Gen-X pumps a while ago when I saw one on eBay while looking for my Iwaki, but I found the Gen-X pumps have higher wattage usage (or at least the one that was comparable to the MD20Z) so I went with the Iwaki. There was a post on the PcPer forums I started about the Gen-X pump in question. Era around Q3-04.

If you want to stick with DC current, I would give the new DDC a good look. It's 3/8" fittings only though. It's probably already been talked about here and PcPer. I found out about it at SPCR.

DrCR

________

How quiet is that pump? I've been digging through the water cooling forum at SPCR, and found mostly recommendations for the Eheim 1048. How does the Iwaki MD-20RTZ compair?