Pressure relief valves/Membranes Do they work and are they needed?

VKleita

VKleita

VKleita

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After someone else post about leaking joints made me feel very paranoid.

So gave my system a once over.

Seems one of my XSPC 90 degree bends is weeping slightly, its when the system is warm thus I've never noticed before but could see a mark down the side of the external rad when I turned it sideways.

Im guessing if it only weeps when warm it might be a pressure issue? (its a massive external rad system linking several together so when warm guessing there a fair bit more "pressure" than a normal small system?)

Would maybe a pressure relief valve help with this or is it stimply I just have a dodgy elbow ?

Even more paranoid now :s
 
Pressure will be negligible I would have thought, I know it's pumping it one way but if you think it also sucking it back from the other. Also the bigger the loop if anything you will have a drop in pressure, no?
 
I was meaning more the water gets warm, has to expand, due to so much water much more pressure etc.

I'm not sure but the leak deff seems to be worst when its warm.
 
VKleita said:
I was meaning more the water gets warm, has to expand, due to so much water much more pressure etc.

I'm not sure but the leak deff seems to be worst when its warm.
Click to expand...

I get what you mean but the pressure increase from the heat will be next to nothing, think mine topped out at 33 ish after some serious gaming/rendering/compiling sessions.

If the coolant was reaching boiling point then I would agree but if it is hitting that temp you got other issues :p
 
Are you talking about Cape Cora radiators?

You can get an idea of just what sort of pressure your loop is at if you have trapped air in your loop and then taking the top of a res to release it results in the water level increasing, could quite easily be ~1barg I reckon.

I've got a passive set up using Cape Coras and generally would get a weep when the loop was running. I've added a wee pressure relief valve to my res and I've not had an issue since.
 
They are 3 external radiators two which are massive Watercool ones (Mo-Ra3 420 Units with 4 x 200MM fans fitted to one unit. )

Base temp is usually same as outside (Sat in a window) but raises as high as 35'c.

during the night (Even if left on downloading etc) never anything its only during a long day of gaming that the leak occurs.

I think its more likely its the fitting getting warm, expanding and leaking between seals but its such a major arse to take it all to bits :(
 
Taking Jokester post to heart I have ran heaven benchmark for the last 20 mins, managed to get upto from 22 to 32'c coolant temp (With external fans off I might add!)
Unbutton the res give a "ssssh" noise of escaping air but the coolant level didnt seem to really move or anything (Well I didn't notice it do so) so the air trapped inside cant of been heavily compressed.

If i seal it back up now, does that mean the system will be at slight negative pressure? Maybe thats a temp cure until I can take it all to bits properly?
 
What'll happen is that when you turn the loop off it'll go below air pressure, so if anything happens it'll be air that leaks back into the loop over time.
 
With a normal reservoir the air in the top of the res shouldn't allow the pressure rise too much.

If you don't have much air and a large water volume it's not a bad idea to have a relief valve to let some air out.

I've not had this fitting leaking problem on my system as I still use barbs. Not as pretty but I've never had any leaks.
 
I just always leave a port on the res open unless i need to move it.

Only ever had 1 leak and I think that was due to the stress on a 45 degree fitting which I have now fixed on my new loop.
 
I prefer to seal it up to reduce evaporation.
I used to lose quite a bit of water with an open port.
Plus I'm stupid and might move the pc without closing the port :)
 
Hmm thanks for the replies people.

I think the 90 was under a lot of stress at one point, I have two rads stacked on top of each other and it has been moved about etc.

Got some replacement parts on order, lets see if that sorts the issue, if not as Holst suggest might have to make some barb arrangement.

Thanks again.
 
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