Radiator Placement
 

Hi,

I've got a single pass heater core with elements 9.5" x 6.5" x 2". It's a single pass core with the inlet/outlet being diagonal with each other.

In a thread I’d posted I asked several questions & one was for placement. (It’s going external & in the rear. I was thinking it would be advisable to have the hot water enter the top & exit below in that the hot water would tend to be at the top and the cooler would tend to sink & this way maximum cooling would happen to the exiting water.

One fellow said the hot should enter the bottom because the bubbles would get trapped in the top of the core if that was where the water was entering and that I should consider installing a bleeder valve to release the air if I’m going to have the hot enter the top.

It’s an interesting thought. It seems as if any heater core would run this “risk” if it’s vertically placed.

I was going to attach the heater to the outside of the case tomorrow but I’m going to await responses on this one.

Anyone have any choice ideas on this?

Cheers!

Yes you are going to have problems with the air being trapped in the rad if you are not careful - best way to avoid this is construct an airtrap at the highest point in your system.

Also I don't think it matters that much where the water comes in - you have a pump in the system so the water is being "forced circulated" anyway.

What IS most important though is the rad is in the path of the coldest air possible - which is why most people have it at the FRONT with the intake fans drawing air through it.

Hope this helps

~ Boli

OK just for clarification: Airtraps do not need to be at the highest point in your system. The bubbles will move around in the system until they get to the airtrap. I have ran a system with the airtrap on the bottom of the case with no problems whatsoever with bleeding. The design of the airtrap is not that important either. As long as the coolant slows down it's velocity in the airtrap.

As far as your situation, I would definitely have the water enter in the bottom of the rad.

BrianW