| Home > Brakecooling Ducts |
|
|
|
When air passes over an object, it can accumulate heat energy or
deposit heat on the object. This is thermal convection in action.
The radiator is designed to transfer the coolant's heat energy to the
air.
As air passes through the radiator, the heat in the coolant actually
passes through the metal and is absorbed by the air. When the air
reaches the far side of the radiator, it is at a greater temperature
and the coolant is at a lower temperature because it dissipated its
heat into the air. The same principle is at work within the
transmission cooler of a radiator, if the car has an automatic
transmission. The transmission fluid flowing through the cooler gives
off it's heat to the coolant within the radiator, which then gives
off it's heat to the air flowing through the radiator.
Disc brakes and various other parts which need cooling dissipate heat
directly into the air without using water. Some types of cars, such
as Volkswagens, use air cooled engines. These eliminate the need for
water by having more engine surface area through the use of cast
fins. These allow the air to pass over a large surface area of the
engine and thus transfer heat directly to the air.
As your car travels down the road, the air that passes through the
radiator grille either exits through the floor of the engine
compartment, or it may pass out through the sides of the car, through
what are known as gills. These side vents allow the air, which is
compressed within the engine compartment to exit to an area which is
of relatively low pressure rather than trying to force it under the
car where there isn't as much room for it.
|
|
|
