Rad flow vs. wb flow

m3_arun · 12-05-2002, 10:57 PM

i was reading through some of BillA's articles at OC.com (the one on WB testing and the one on rad testing) and basically they say that WB performance improves with increased flow while rad performance is better at lower flow rates. is there any way to maximize performance for both the rad and the wb in the same setup? i was thinking about 2 loops, etc. anyone have any ideas/suggestions?

thanks.

8-Ball · 12-06-2002, 06:25 AM

Not all radiators perform better at low flow rates. Rather than trying to maximise performance for rad and waterblock, do some background reading and try and pair a block and rad that both work well at high flow rate.

Alternatively, you could use a system designed for low flow rate as with many of the new German systems available.

8-ball

myv65 · 12-06-2002, 10:49 AM

If you're reading the radiator article, I'm afraid that the data is not correct. Bill has since updated the graphs, but the updated graphs never made it into the article.

As a general rule, radiators perform better with increased flow rate (both air and water).

MadDogMe · 12-06-2002, 11:17 AM

I *think*the revised data lifted the 'average best' performance to 2.5GPM from around the 0.5GPM mark did'nt it?, BillA has the revised data on his site I believe, I hav'nt been able to sucsessfuly connect to BillA's site because of an anomaly with my Internet Service Provider...

BillA's Site

8-Ball · 12-06-2002, 11:54 AM

I thought that was the case.

I spent ages trying to convince people that you needed higher flow rates in the radiator, just working it out from first principles.

Then I read that article and it kinda shut me up for a bit. Glad that's cleared up.

8-ball

m3_arun · 12-06-2002, 05:49 PM

so youres aying basically that that rad rticle is wrong, and rads do performs better at higher flow rates? so a higher flow pump would increase cooling with bot the wb and the rad?

bigben2k · 12-06-2002, 05:56 PM

Yes, but be careful: the additional cooling is not proportional to the higher flow.

m3_arun · 12-06-2002, 05:57 PM

ok thanks.
what would be the ideal flow rate then in a sytem with a heatercore and cathar's block?

MadDogMe · 12-07-2002, 04:19 AM

Don't know, but seeing as Cathars block is'nt the (cooling)bottleneck I'd maybe try to match the flow to the rads best/sweet spot, which might require a pump and a half to push 2.5GPM through 'White Water'

, I'm guessing though :shrug: ...

Won't know for sure till BillA finishes testing Cathars 'White Water'...

Jess sent BillA an 'Atlantis' for testing as well, there's two blocks I cant wait to see...

I hope BillA does another rad article soon with the new rads out, hopefuly somewhere that will bother to update it?

...

Cathar · 12-07-2002, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by m3_arun
ok thanks.
what would be the ideal flow rate then in a sytem with a heatercore and cathar's block?

Higher flow rate is always better, so that's a bit of a loaded question.

The question may be more one of how high is practical before pump heat starts to overcome the benefits of the additional cooling.

This is of course totally dependent on your radiator. I personally would not get a magnetic impeller style pump that consumes more than 40W to avoid the pump heat factor thing. If you're getting an Iwaki then feel free to get beefier with the pump.

A 40W magnetic impeller pump style should buy you around 2.5-3m of pressure head height.

Testing with an Eheim 1250 (25W/2m head height) and a Pondmaster 4200 (90W/4m head height) I see absolutely no performance difference as the extra heat of the pondmaster starts to overwhelm even my large dual fan radiator. This is why I suggest that the "sweet spot" for magnetic impeller pumps may be around the 40W mark. Just a guess though.

Quote:

which might require a pump and a half to push 2.5GPM through 'White Water'

It requires about a 4.0m rated head pressure to push 2.5GPM through the White Water + radiator, given that the pump is capable of supplying 2.5gpm in the first place of course.

[Edit: Correction to the estimated required head height to push 2.5GPM through the block + radiator]

12-05-2002, 10:57 PM	#1
m3_arun Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 91	Rad flow vs. wb flow i was reading through some of BillA's articles at OC.com (the one on WB testing and the one on rad testing) and basically they say that WB performance improves with increased flow while rad performance is better at lower flow rates. is there any way to maximize performance for both the rad and the wb in the same setup? i was thinking about 2 loops, etc. anyone have any ideas/suggestions? thanks.

12-06-2002, 05:56 PM	#7
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Yes, but be careful: the additional cooling is not proportional to the higher flow. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

12-06-2002, 06:25 AM	#2
8-Ball Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Oxford University, UK Posts: 452	Not all radiators perform better at low flow rates. Rather than trying to maximise performance for rad and waterblock, do some background reading and try and pair a block and rad that both work well at high flow rate. Alternatively, you could use a system designed for low flow rate as with many of the new German systems available. 8-ball

12-06-2002, 10:49 AM	#3
myv65 Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2002 Location: home Posts: 365	If you're reading the radiator article, I'm afraid that the data is not correct. Bill has since updated the graphs, but the updated graphs never made it into the article. As a general rule, radiators perform better with increased flow rate (both air and water).

12-06-2002, 11:17 AM	#4
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	I thinkthe revised data lifted the 'average best' performance to 2.5GPM from around the 0.5GPM mark did'nt it?, BillA has the revised data on his site I believe, I hav'nt been able to sucsessfuly connect to BillA's site because of an anomaly with my Internet Service Provider... BillA's Site

12-06-2002, 11:54 AM	#5
8-Ball Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Oxford University, UK Posts: 452	I thought that was the case. I spent ages trying to convince people that you needed higher flow rates in the radiator, just working it out from first principles. Then I read that article and it kinda shut me up for a bit. Glad that's cleared up. 8-ball

12-06-2002, 05:49 PM	#6
m3_arun Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 91	so youres aying basically that that rad rticle is wrong, and rads do performs better at higher flow rates? so a higher flow pump would increase cooling with bot the wb and the rad?

12-06-2002, 05:57 PM	#8
m3_arun Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 91	ok thanks. what would be the ideal flow rate then in a sytem with a heatercore and cathar's block?

12-07-2002, 04:19 AM	#9
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	Don't know, but seeing as Cathars block is'nt the (cooling)bottleneck I'd maybe try to match the flow to the rads best/sweet spot, which might require a pump and a half to push 2.5GPM through 'White Water' , I'm guessing though :shrug: ... Won't know for sure till BillA finishes testing Cathars 'White Water'... Jess sent BillA an 'Atlantis' for testing as well, there's two blocks I cant wait to see... I hope BillA does another rad article soon with the new rads out, hopefuly somewhere that will bother to update it? ...

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)