Vanes with a Tilted Radiator

[MCoupeAtlanta]

OK, I have a race car with side pods with limited space, top-to-bottom (nine inches). I plan to have two radiators, one in each side pod. . . tilted 45 degrees back. To maximize radiator size. Back to simplify straightening fins hit by stones (yes, stones can come in from the rear, too, and screen in the front)

Yes, of course this is sub-optimal. Yes, of course I will tightly seal all edges of the radiators to force all air taken in to go through them.

But maximum cooling is the desire - a two stroke motor. I have a single, thick, custom radiator currently. With a fan that must be on while on-course. That barely cools my current engine, let alone the larger engine that I am installing. The new radiators will be as thin as possible.

So, I am an engineer, but with no aero training. Do I need a mid-height (horizontal) vane directing air into the rads to prevent most/all of the air from being forced into the upper, furthest-back section of the radiators? Or vanes? Does this vane need to be sealed to the sides, left and right? (which would be quite challenging to do - well, on one side)

Chris

 

[MikeHalloran]

Vanes to change the direction of the airflow?
Probably not worth the weight and hassle.
Air will flow through the radiator when it has nowhere else to go.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[jonnycowboy]

No vanes.

This might help you:

http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/toro-rosso-radiator-layout/

 

[evelrod]

Chris, I don't have a tilted radiator for water cooling but I do have a tilted and ducted oil heat exchanger that did benefit from a center mounted "vane". Without the deflector oil temps would exceed 250f on a warm day and with, temps hovered in the low 200f range.

I don't race F1, indeed, I seldom even watch any racing except from behind the wheel of MY cars. I would suggest that a simple trial and error approach to this quite simple little "aero" question is in order.

Rod