Basic concept of watercooling uses the following parts:
- Reservoir
- Water pump
- Waterblock
- Radiator
- Tubing
The water travels in this order (=> obviously represents tubes) :
Reservoir => Water pump => Waterblock(s) => Radiator => Back to the reservoir
The reservoir is exactly like it implies, a holding tank for the water. Typically around l liter or so, the reservoir ensures there's water available to pump from. It also reduces the risk of introducing air into the system, since any air that makes it into they system will get stuck at the top of the reservoir, where it can't be touched by the submersed tubes.
The water pump is responsible for circulating the water. Pumps are available in many sizes, rated in volume/time (usually gallons/minute or gallons/hour). Higher volume ratings result in better performance. They are available in submersible & non submersible models. Submersible models are generally easier to deal with, since they can be built into the reservoir resulting in one sealed unit & two less watertight connections to worry about. The downside to submersible pumps is that like all electric motors they produce heat. If the pump is submersed in your reservoir, it's an additional source of thermal energy, which will raise the temperature of your water before it ever hits the CPU.
The waterblock is where the actual cooling takes place. It's fastened directly to the heatsource, usually a CPU or a peltier on a CPU. Think of it like a regular heatsink, only using water instead of air. The waterblock is a sealed copper or aluminum block with channels cut inside it. The water goes in one side, travels through the channels, & then out the other side, absorbing heat from the CPU as it goes through. Water has a very high specific heat capacity, meaning water can absorb a VERY high amount of thermal energy without undergoing a dramatic temperature change. Which obviously makes it ideal as a cooling fluid.
The radiator serves to reduce the temperature of the water as much as possible before it goes back to the reservoir. Just like a radiator in a car, it operates via tightly coiled aluminum or coppertubes & aluminum or copper fins. Typically a fan or two is blown directly across the radiator, rather than relying on passive cooling. Once the water completes it's trip through the radiator, it's returned to the reservoir for another trip around the loop.
Water cooling by itself has the potential to cool the CPU to room temperature, while a water cooled peltier system can cool a CPU well below freezing. Water cooling is very efficient, & also very quiet. The downside, obviously, is that you have water inside your system.
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