I am just a radiator novice, but all radiators that I
have any experience with have had straight passages
from front to back between fins. When that is the
case, most books and reports use flat plate drag
equations to determine the skin friction and heat
transfer as a first cut. Now if a flat plate radiator
is a radiator where flat plate drag equations can be
used, then I guess I haven't seen a radiator that
isn't one.

Actually, I take that back. The A/C condenser on my
car has taken so many rock hits that the leading edge
of many of the fins are badly bent. I guess some new
equations will be needed!

Ron


--- Ed Klepeis <techwelding@comcast.net> wrote:

> Dear Tracy
>         I'm with you what are these special flat
> plate rads. I have built many systems but haven't
> come across these flat plate rads. I will stand
> corrected if someone comes up with something. I
> think what everyone is talking about is a flat plate
> cooler that is put in the bottom tank on rads to
> cool trans fluid. I think fluidyne is using them as
> oil to water oil coolers. I looked into that but
> didn't like the sealing system they used around the
> oil inlet/outlet good enough for cars but not safe
> for aircraft. If anyone has anything to add to this
> I would be happy to hear about it.
>                                                    
>                                                    
>             Regards
>                                                    
>                                                    
>         Ed Klepeis