PDA

View Full Version : a plumbing question!


dave.gsi
26-02-08, 08:33 PM
right bit of a weird one i couldn't get my head round today.................

you can get single radiators, and double radiators (in houses, not cars!)


people swap the single ones for double because they're warmer, yes?


the lad who i work with was questioning this though. he couldn't work out why the double ones were warmer than the single ones. he said basically, if the boiler is pumping out water at a set temperature (say 40'C), it doesn't matter how many singles or doubles you have in that room you'll still have the same temp coming out (40'C).

i was like, yeah, but theres more surface area to get that 40'C so therefore you get more heat out.

but its not that simple is it? just because you have a double radiator doesn't mean you'll get 80'C out of it does it? because the boiler is only sending water at 40'C??

i'm confused :tard: :tard:

any ideas?
Shaun_O'Donnell
26-02-08, 08:36 PM
I'd agree with you on the surface area theory.

Works the same, although opposite in cars, larger core area = more cooling.
General Baxter
26-02-08, 08:36 PM
it wont be warmer, it will just warm the room quicker to temp :)

as theres more surface area with that temp :)
dave.gsi
26-02-08, 08:38 PM
it wont be warmer, it will just warm the room quicker to temp :)

as theres more surface area with that temp :)

ah haaa! the man speaks sense! i've been scratching my head all day about this lol
Stoo
26-02-08, 08:41 PM
if you have one heater pumping out 40 deg of heat

and then add another heater pumping out 40 deg of heat,

your rooms gonna heat up quicker
mowgli
26-02-08, 08:53 PM
yup, total surface area is the answer, but a double rad the same length & height of a single won't produce exactly twice the heat output (as opposed to temperature). what it does is the front half radiates out into the room, & the back half convects upwards. it is close to twice, but not quite....
General Baxter
26-02-08, 08:54 PM
woo i said something clever and correct :p
mowgli
26-02-08, 08:58 PM
woo i said something clever and correct :p

Best lie down for a bit.....

By the way, did you ever take a photo of your knife wound????? what happened to the lad??
General Baxter
26-02-08, 09:00 PM
Best lie down for a bit.....

By the way, did you ever take a photo of your knife wound????? what happened to the lad??

erm no, not heard anything yet, should really check my threads lol