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Kobuchi · 01-11-2003, 05:05 AM

You're on to something great, Volenti.

I thought of this while repairing a washing machine pump. These pumps have a flat plastic bottom which is easily removed for cleaning inside (they accumulate threads and zipper teeth). The impeller is equally flat on the bottom and 1mm off the baseplate, having no guide pin. The impeller is balanced entirely by the drive shaft, which could be powered directly or by belt. Unfortunately, these pumps have 1-1/8" ports and the base is about 6" diameter. I've been hoping to salvage a smaller, suitable pump.

I have some suggestions for your trial #2:

1) Use a non-submersible pump. A submersible pump may overheat without water circulating around it. Standard pumps have integral tube connectors, which will mean a lot less moding for you, and most of them could be used simply by exchanging the plastic base for a copper one. You may also use different motors on them. I can't think of any common appliances with appropriately sized pumps, though; you may have to buy a small general purpose pump.

2) Use a big motor. Larger motors give you more power for the watts they consume, and have better clearances, meaning that they're more efficient and often quieter than smaller ones. Suitable motors are very easy to salvage out of broken appliances.

3) Secure the motherboard to the pump, not the pump to the motherboard. This will nullify any problems from vibration, motor weight, and torque.

4) Keep the baseplate thin and smooth on both sides. Any surface treatments meant to increase turbulence will slow the water down, and slower water is less turbulent. All that's needed is the thinnest possible baseplate and an impeller nearly grazing that plate.

01-11-2003, 05:05 AM	#34
Kobuchi Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 313	You're on to something great, Volenti. I thought of this while repairing a washing machine pump. These pumps have a flat plastic bottom which is easily removed for cleaning inside (they accumulate threads and zipper teeth). The impeller is equally flat on the bottom and 1mm off the baseplate, having no guide pin. The impeller is balanced entirely by the drive shaft, which could be powered directly or by belt. Unfortunately, these pumps have 1-1/8" ports and the base is about 6" diameter. I've been hoping to salvage a smaller, suitable pump. I have some suggestions for your trial #2: 1) Use a non-submersible pump. A submersible pump may overheat without water circulating around it. Standard pumps have integral tube connectors, which will mean a lot less moding for you, and most of them could be used simply by exchanging the plastic base for a copper one. You may also use different motors on them. I can't think of any common appliances with appropriately sized pumps, though; you may have to buy a small general purpose pump. 2) Use a big motor. Larger motors give you more power for the watts they consume, and have better clearances, meaning that they're more efficient and often quieter than smaller ones. Suitable motors are very easy to salvage out of broken appliances. 3) Secure the motherboard to the pump, not the pump to the motherboard. This will nullify any problems from vibration, motor weight, and torque. 4) Keep the baseplate thin and smooth on both sides. Any surface treatments meant to increase turbulence will slow the water down, and slower water is less turbulent. All that's needed is the thinnest possible baseplate and an impeller nearly grazing that plate.