Body integrated radiator method, requires no grill or openings...

[ncs]

I wonder if the Meredith Effect could somehow be used on cars. Thrust from radiator heat.

The Meredith Effect - AviationBanter

[Tango Charlie]

I doubt if you'd obtain any thrust. Even the homebuilt aircraft guys aren't seeing much, due to relatively slower air speeds and lower temps than what the P-51 Mustang operated at.
Having said that, however...
If I ever get a chance to build a tadpole 3 wheeler, I'd put the radiator behind the rear wheel and hope the heated, expanding air might help 'fill in' the wake behind the vehicle.
Just ideas rollin' around in this melon o' mine.

With the bellypan radiator, like donee pointed out, you'd have to provide airflow at stoplights. I envision the radiator spaced away from the bottom of the vehicle about an inch and an electric blower in the trunk to suck air through the gap.
It wouldn't get as hot as a cat, so I don't think starting fires would be a concern. The heat would be spread out over a larger area.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Tango Charlie

Safety, schmafety. I like the idea. Let's try it!


How about a bellypan/radiator?
Hmmm...

Bakers could slide sheets of bread dough under cars at traffic lights! Hybrid baking! Sorry!

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Tango Charlie

With the bellypan radiator, like donee pointed out, you'd have to provide airflow at stoplights.

Why? The engine should shut itself off at stoplights, of course!

[vtec-e]

I like this thread! I thought of something similar a while back. Here goes: Imagine your front bumper. Now draw a line from the bottom of it down and back to the bottom of your engine. Assuming your rad is gone and there is nothing in the way, you will have a nice downward slope. How about installing a smooth radiator here so it makes that part of the car more pointy and therefore hopefully more aerodynamic. A fan could still be installed on the upper side of the radiator and fins could also be there to aid cooling when the fan is on. Now, if the rad is as wide as possible given the opning size, the cooling ability might be huge. So maybe some experimenting might be needed.

ollie
ps: i'll try upload a pic of what i mean

[Otto]

I've thought about this idea for a boat: Water is ~800 X denser than air, so would carry away heat faster/better. With an aluminum hull, make a jacket at the bottom, then pump the coolant over it, transferring the heat to the alu. hull skin and on into the outside water.

On an aircraft, could use the aluminum skin as radiator.

However, if Mr. Crowder gets his way, we'll have water injection directly into the engine cylinder in a 6 cycle arrangement, obviating radiator and coolant.

[vtec-e]

I know the drawing is a bit rough but time was limited! A hot air intake could be easily incorporated into this, maybe even negating the need for a fan. Maybe...

ollie

[Tango Charlie]

May I suggest 'skid plate radiator' to describe your idea...


Otto, most aircraft use air-cooled engines so don't have engine coolant radiators. Some have oil coolers but they are relatively small and fit easily inside the cowling.

[vtec-e]

LOL! Aluminium might be weak alright. Titanium is of course the dream material but......
Anyway, the rad would be above the lowest point of the engine so the skid pan effect wouldn't really come into it, would it?? I'd be screwed anyway no matter what kind of rad i had at that stage. Now, if only i had access to a functional workshop.

ollie

[donee]

Hi Otto,

Most boat engines injest water into the cooling passages of the engine, and pump it out. So, they are direct conduction cooled. No need for a heat exchanger at all, although bigger engines have a water to water heat exchanger. That is why an outboard motor can be so light-weight. Ever seen a radiator on a boat? Nope. Its just the engines down in the engine bay.