coolant flow

[PRuggiero]

hey guys, i am working on a device that will be placed on the hot coolant hose that goes into the radiator. So the hose will be split and the device put in between. I am modeling this in flow works. The problem I am having is all I know is the coolant velocity in the hose. I need a pressure to get flow works to run the simulation and I know the coolant system is under pressure, around 15psi. But it seems that I need a pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of this device. I don't understand how there would be a pressure differential between the inlet and exit of my device. Any help is appreciated.

thanks,
pete

 

[reidh]

There will always be a pressure drop associated with any inline device. Even a straight length of hose will have a pressure drop associated with it, albeit it will most likely be small.

You can either make a prototype of your design and install it in a full system and measure the pressure drop across it, or calculate it using either software or good ole' paper and pencil.

-Reidh

 

[Fabrico]

The 15 psi is not at all constant throughout the system. It is only an average and has no effect on basic flow or pressure drop.

There can be as high as 20-30 psi differential across a water pump in racing conditions. The lowest differential is usually at or near the radiator.

 

[PRuggiero]

Thanks for the info so far, Since the pressure differential is the lowest near the radiator, the coolant most likely moves slowest there, right? Would you guys have an estimate of the rate of coolant flow going into the radiator hose?

 

[reidh]

How big of an engine? What type of engine is it? (Two or four stroke, etc.)


-Reidh

 

[reidh]

Sorry, didn't mean to submit my last post.

Anyhow, is this for a race car, civilian automobile, how large of a radiator, how efficient of a radiator, and so forth.

There are so many factors that go into the coolant flow rate.

Also, you stated that the lowest differential pressure (I assume you mean gauge ambient pressure) is near the radiator. The lowest pressure will be just before the pump inlet.

-Reidh