letterman7
Honorary Admin
I should know this, but honestly, I just never paid that much attention to the physics of the thing. For the followers of my red car build thread, you'll see that I 'developed' a watercooled heater for the cockpit using a pair of EGR coolers from a TDI powerplant.
The system isn't without some design issues, I'm sure, but the coolant basically flows in a circle starting at a coolant tank and ending at the same. A pump draws from the bottom of the tank and the last hose in the leg returns the coolant to the top (or near enough). I didn't want it to be a closed system since I did not know what temperatures were going to be and I didn't want a possible pressure bomb in the engine compartment. Turns out, I was right - the system works too well and actually boils the coolant in a matter of minutes to the point it boils out of the coolant tank overflow (and onto the ground).
I realize that a typical automobile engine generates pressure in a closed system and that keeps the boiling level much higher. How high can a typical system go before it blows? I'd like to see if I can figure out how to make this system work - it's not that I have a lot invested into it other than some time, but I'd like to see if there are alternative coolants or liquids that could be used that have a higher boiling limit. The one kink in the system is the diverter valve for the heater core (diverts from one heater core in the car to another to act as a cooling device when the heater is off) requires that automobile coolant be used. I'm guessing it's plastic inside and may be subject to abuse if another liquid is used.
Anyway, just "thought-threading" off the top of my head trying to come up with a workable solution. Anyone have any ideas or input?
Rick
The system isn't without some design issues, I'm sure, but the coolant basically flows in a circle starting at a coolant tank and ending at the same. A pump draws from the bottom of the tank and the last hose in the leg returns the coolant to the top (or near enough). I didn't want it to be a closed system since I did not know what temperatures were going to be and I didn't want a possible pressure bomb in the engine compartment. Turns out, I was right - the system works too well and actually boils the coolant in a matter of minutes to the point it boils out of the coolant tank overflow (and onto the ground).
I realize that a typical automobile engine generates pressure in a closed system and that keeps the boiling level much higher. How high can a typical system go before it blows? I'd like to see if I can figure out how to make this system work - it's not that I have a lot invested into it other than some time, but I'd like to see if there are alternative coolants or liquids that could be used that have a higher boiling limit. The one kink in the system is the diverter valve for the heater core (diverts from one heater core in the car to another to act as a cooling device when the heater is off) requires that automobile coolant be used. I'm guessing it's plastic inside and may be subject to abuse if another liquid is used.
Anyway, just "thought-threading" off the top of my head trying to come up with a workable solution. Anyone have any ideas or input?
Rick