I’m an audiophile and home theatre enthusiast. I keep hearing the term “passive radiator” and when I google it everything just goes over my head. Can someone explain like I’m 5?
In: Technology
A radiator here on Earth, surrounded by a fluid such as air or water, transfers the heat via radiation (where hot surfaces just emit Infra-Red) or by convection, where the heat moves from the radiator into the air its in contact with.
A non-passive radiator has a fan that moves the air around so that cooler air moves in and takes the hot air’s place. They work well but can be a source of noise. The movement of the air and the fan moving it make noise.
A passive radiator has enough surface area to put enough of the heat into the air without using a fan. They’re silent. But they have to be LARGE compared to an actively-cooled radiator for the same amount of performance.
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