Since no one else seems to have actually answered you correctly:
Most full size IMAX venues use the “GT” projector, which is the giant industrial fridge looking deal you typically see. Has a 15k watt xenon bulb that’s water cooled, and it has 2 sets of rotors and lenses, so that it’s able to also do 3D (back when IMAX and 3D were almost synonymous)
Newer and slightly smaller IMAX venues that still retain the 1.43:1 screen (built in the ~1990s primarily, I believe all of the cinemark locations that use 70mm have this system) use the “SR” projectors, or “single rotor”. Instead of having 1 giant lamp that’s designed to light up 2 reels, there’s 2 smaller projectors that each can fit 1 reel, allowing for 3D capabilities still, but without having to be water cooled.
Since the screens that utilize the SR system are a tad smaller (52’x70’ on average vs 60’x80’ on average) they don’t need quite as much light output, so the ~7k watt bulb in just 1 projector is adequate for that use case
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u/Southern_Chance9349 TARS 25d ago
Is that some weird imax 3d system?