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Cooling Systems: Part 1

Radiator:

Basically a radiator is a heat exchanger. It transfers heat from the hot coolant flowing through its core to the air blown through it by the fan. Most cars today use radiators made of aluminum. Radiators are constructed by brazing thin aluminum fins to flattened aluminum tubes. The coolant flows from the inlet, usually located at the top, through these tubes to the outlet at the bottom. These tubes are usually mounted parallel to each other in a cross flow arrangement, which means the coolant flows from one side to the other. Some radiators have the flow going from top to bottom but are now not as common anymore. The aluminum fins conduct the heat from the tubes and transfer it to the air flowing through the radiator.

Some radiators have what is called a turbulator inserted into the tubes that increases the turbulence of the coolant moving through them. If the coolant flows too easily through the tubes, only the coolant actually touching the tubes would be cooled directly. Since the cooling ability of the radiator depends on the temperature difference between the coolant and the tubes, the turbulence inside the tube mixes all of the coolant so more of its heat is transferred to the tubes. In this way all of the coolant is used in the most effective manner possible.

Radiators have two tanks, either on each side or top and bottom. In vehicles with an automatic transmission one tank will contain another tank to cool the transmission fluid. In essence, this transmission cooler is like a radiator within a radiator. The only difference is instead of exchanging heat with the air, the transmission fluid exchanges heat with the coolant in the radiator.

That's it for this week. Let's call it a night and finish it next week.

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