I *do* think that making the channel wider will help. I didn't do that initially because of the unknowns of working with such a thin base. However, I'm over those fears now. The .043" thick material is *plenty* strong! I'll probably try the wider channel at some point. I have enough material to make 20 of these, and they only take about 2 hrs to make (if that) so I can try all sorts of variations!
However, I don't think that your turbulence layer would work. I actually did understand your earlier description. But you don't actually have a middle turbulance layer of water...you have a top layer and a bottom layer of water and a middle turbulance "initiator", for lack of a better term. Each one of those water channels has a ceiling and a floor. I guess it's like a two story building!
The edges of your holes would create the turbulence as the water flows past them. The turbulence would occur on the floor of the top layer, and on the ceiling of the bottom layer. That's not what we want. We want the turbulence on the base, as that's the only place where we can pickup any heat.
However, I may be misunderstanding again. Are you suggesting that the water be pumped through the holes in the middle layer? I ask because I was thinking that the top and bottom layers would be fed in the same way that it works now. If you're thinking of pumping the water through the holes, then, I don't like the idea, mostly because you've now created a place to trap air (the original design was also meant to pump air through as well.) Also, in that configuration there doesn't appear to be any real "route" for the water. I mean...yes, the water will go in and come out, but you don't get a sense that every water molecule is on a definite track getting in and out. You might have some hot spots.
Of course, trying it is the only real way to tell. Go for it!
