water path through radiator

[flod]

does anyone know the path water takes through a typical radiator?
is it always like this?

or does the water snake around through each pipe?

 

[Tsumi]

What you showed is the typical for most radiators. The snake would be too complicated and restrictive for little benefit.

However, there is one exception that I am aware of:
HWLabs Black Ice GTX radiators. Rather than splitting it in half perpendicular to the width (as in your example), it is split in half perpendicular to the thickness. So with Black Ice GTX radiators, to get the best performance out of them, the inlet and the outlet is important. You want the inlet to go to the side where the air exhaust is, and the outlet to receive water on the side of the intake. I'm not sure if this carries on to the new Nemesis GTX radiators.

 

[flod]

it is split in half perpendicular to the thickness. So with Black Ice GTX radiators, to get the best performance out of them, the inlet and the outlet is important.

has anyone measured to confirm this? in this configuration, compared to the reverse configuration, the outlet side performs better but the inlet side performs worse. so it's not that simple actually

anyway this weekend i'm going to be working on an idealized theoretical model for radiator performance as a function of water flow rate, air flow rate, and radiator thickness/dimensions. it should then be possible to evaluate which orientation is more effective.


hmmm found this:
http://martinsliquidlab.org/2012/06/08/hesmelaughs-radiator-sandwich-testing/
which seems to confirm what you said

 

[wirk]

has anyone measured to confirm this? in this configuration, compared to the reverse configuration, the outlet side performs better but the inlet side performs worse. so it's not that simple actually anyway this weekend i'm going to be working on an idealized theoretical model for radiator performance as a function of water flow rate, air flow rate, and radiator thickness/dimensions. it should then be possible to evaluate which orientation is more effective. hmmm found this:
http://martinsliquidlab.org/2012/06/08/hesmelaughs-radiator-sandwich-testing/
which seems to confirm what you said

Hmm, before starting with theory it would be good to look into the available body of knowledge instead of inventing wheel again. Apart of theory there are clever solutions like airplex modularity system of which you can see internal design.

 

[Tsumi]

Well, the reasoning behind it is the same thing used in many biological systems, such as gills in fish and lungs in birds. It's the counter-flow transfer system, and the idea is to maintain as high as a delta as you can.

By having the outlet on the side of the intake, water on its way out is getting the coolest air. Of course, that air is warmed up as it passes through to the water on the inlet side, but that is offset by the warmer temperature of the water, maintaining higher heat transfer, and resulting in a cooler outlet temperature.

 

[flod]

Hmm, before starting with theory it would be good to look into the available body of knowledge instead of inventing wheel again.

haven't found anything in a few minutes of searching. i'm sure the result is in some textbook or paper but i think it's faster to just do it myself

but here's something to confirm the counterflow concept though the situation with radiators is a bit more complicated http://www.engineersedge.com/heat_exchanger/Camparison_heat_exchanger_types.htm

edit: nvm here's a thesis: http://www3.nd.edu/~msen/Research/Theses/Alotaibi.pdf though it's a bit too thorough for i need.

 

[Tsumi]

A bit more complicated, but the general principle is the same.

But then again, that style is basically only found in a few select radiators. Most other radiators utilized the other kind.