A radiator for a computer
A radiator is a heat exchanger . It is an element that allows heat to be dissipated from something , either to prevent it from overheating or to use it to heat a place.
Radiation and convection
Radiators can work by radiation and convection . These devices receive or release heat, depending on their function and the temperature difference between the exchange media.
In internal combustion engines used in cars and other machines, the radiator is used to remove heat from the coolant , releasing it into the air . Its function is very important because, while they are on, these engines produce a lot of heat that must be dissipated.
The radiator is part of the vehicle's liquid cooling circuit . In order to enhance the convection effect, a thermostatically controlled fan equipped with a small motor helps circulate air through the device.
In electronic devices
Computers , on the other hand, have radiators coupled with fans to dissipate the heat generated in the circuits, thus preventing damage to electronic components. These radiators, known as heat sinks , enable cooling of microprocessors, especially the CPU and GPU.
Today, this is also the case in devices other than computers. For example, in video game consoles. Basically, any device that requires at least one microprocessor to operate and that, for reasons related to its design and application, generates too much heat to be dissipated in any other way, requires the installation of a radiator.
Interestingly, today's most popular devices, mobile phones, don't use this technique to dissipate heat because they're too thin. How do manufacturers of phones, tablets and other ultra-thin gadgets keep their processors from burning up? They usually rely on the metal casing itself to do the trick. In fact, one of the reasons they don't generate as much heat as a desktop computer is that they use much less electrical power.
Household appliance
As a heating device, finally, the radiator is a device that contemplates the circulation of a hot liquid inside it to radiate heat to the environment . It can have tubes, fins or panels to emit said heat. Generally, this resource is used in the development of a centralized heating system .
In this context, we are talking about heat transfer fluid , the liquid that transports heat from one point to another, passing through different conduits. The process is relatively simple, although it must be repeated many times throughout the operation: the fluid is heated at one point and then moved to transfer it to another. There are different types of radiators, such as steel tube radiators, which are usually arranged vertically and welded to two collectors, one above and one below.
A radiator used for space heating
Steel tube radiators are effective in resisting pressure and are used in industrial environments, at high altitudes and where there is steam in the environment. We also have finned tubular radiators , which have a larger emission surface. These fins are placed on the tubes and thanks to this design it is possible to manufacture smaller radiators, although cleaning becomes more difficult, since it has more nooks and crannies than the previous one.
Another common type of radiator is the flat panel radiator, which consists of two steel sheets with a maximum thickness of 4 millimetres, either smooth or channel-shaped. This is the most economical type on the market.