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can someone explain diff between a rad. and heater core?
- Thread starter Lt. Max
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2002
- Location
- Nashville, TN
Actually, there isn't one. A heater core is just a type of radiator. Here's the webster definition.
one that radiates : as a : any of various devices (as a nest of pipes or tubes) for transferring heat from a fluid within to an area or object outside b : a transmitting antenna
In this case, we're interested in definition A.
one that radiates : as a : any of various devices (as a nest of pipes or tubes) for transferring heat from a fluid within to an area or object outside b : a transmitting antenna
In this case, we're interested in definition A.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2001
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- North America
Lt. Max said:
A radiator and heater core do essentially the same job, they transfer heat from a liquid to the ambient air. As for design and performance in the automotive realm, a heater core is compact with a very tight fin spacing and needs a high performance blower to get air through it effectively. On the other hand, a radiator is much larger, with more open fin spacing and flows air better and can use a larger axial fan (or 2).
It is a trade-off of size vs. air flow vs. performance. Ultimately, the air flow is almost always the restrictor on performance, hardly ever is the water side flow a restriction for cpu cooling. The questions to answer: 1) how much room do you have for either heat exchanger, 2) how big / loud of a fan or blower can you tolerate?
Good Luck.
Koooler King
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2002
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
The heater core is normally used in a car to transfer heat from the engine into the air used to heat the interior of the car. It is the same principle as a radiator but like tft says "the radiator is bigger".
We use them because they are relatively cheap, they are relatively small and they are effective in dissipating heat from a computer water cooling system.
We use them because they are relatively cheap, they are relatively small and they are effective in dissipating heat from a computer water cooling system.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2001
- Location
- North America
Lt. Max said:
A radiator and heater core do essentially the same job, they transfer heat from a liquid to the ambient air. As for design and performance in the automotive realm, a heater core is compact with a very tight fin spacing and needs a high performance blower to get air through it effectively. On the other hand, a radiator is much larger, with more open fin spacing and flows air better and can use an larger axial fan.
It is a trade-off of size vs. air flow vs. performance. Ultimately, the air flow is the restrictor, hardly ever the water side flow a restriction for cpu cooling. The questions to answer: how much room to I have for either, how big / loud of a fan or blower can I tolerate?
Good Luck.
Koooler King
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