Quote:
Originally Posted by meanderingthemaze
... So would a long and thin rectangular opening at the bottom of the compartment be better than circular?
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The issue here isn't the shape of the cooling air exit opening. It is the most
effective -- or least harmful -- direction for the air to be moving as it passes
through the belly pan.
In the picture I posted, notice the large radius on the aft edge of the ducting.
Its purpose is to allow the radiator cooling air in this case to entering into
the under car air flow smoothly, kind of like idealized traffic flow at an
interstate entry ramp. Although we can't see it, I suspect the other side of
the duct towards the front of the car also has this curve in it.
There is another interesting element in the picture, the vertical air dam in
front of the exit opening. I suspect this is to make a low pressure area
behind it for the exiting cooling air to fill.
(Experts, PLEASE, jump in here as I'm well beyond what I can say with
confidence!
)