flyrotary@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Jeff, a few years ago I would've agreed that would be better for slower "bush" planes but not for me... but now I'm getting pretty convinced that any extra drag at top speed isn't really important to me anymore.

As far as the Powersport install, I may be completely mistaken here, but I thought the fatal crash that ended the program was due to a burst setrab oil cooler. Don't have much time here tonight (just recovering/cleaning up from hosting a wedding on my property this past weekend), so I don't have time to confirm what actually happened by searching the archives, but I do recall we discussed it at length. Does anybody have any pictures of their installation?

My rads were originally plumbed in parallel, but when I brought it back to the airport last year, I had them plumbed in series. This spring I switched them back to a parallel arrangement, due to the fact that when the engine was off but the EWP was running so there was no pressure in the system, then the outlet hose from the rad would collapse, due to the suction of the pump and the restriction of the rads. When the engine is running and the system is under pressure then the hose does not do this, but it does indicate an excessive restriction to flow. But as a parallel install , with the engine off/no coolant pressure, there is still a slight, but not complete collapse of the hose. It hasn't seem to make a real big difference in my overall temps, but I did see a much bigger deltaT across the 2 rads in series at the expense of less flow. But the biggest advantage to a series install would have to be simpler, lighter plumbing arrangement.

So depending on what I find with experimenting with this curved Ninja radiator, I'm hoping to put them in series if they are not too restrictive.

Todd Bartrim

On Mon, Aug 26, 2019 at 1:50 PM William Jepson wrjjrs@gmail.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

Guys, I mentioned the curved radiators because some cowl contours will work with them. Note also that the original Powersport team came up with a excellent layout. 3 setrab type coolers in a splayed U. Tipped up just a little one cooler for oil at the bottom with two water radiators on the sides V’ed into the flat cooler on the bottom. All 3 are edge to the firewall. The baffling is at the front of the rads. Over all the cowl with the area between the rads open. Very little ducting is needed. The air flows into the center, out through the coolers, and out the bottom of the cowl in the standard position. This system needs a swirl pot to recombine the two water radiators. Run those parallel. This system was the last from the original Powersport and worked great.
Bill Jepson

On Mon, Aug 26, 2019 at 7:21 AM lehanover lehanover@aol.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

I use three 44 tube SETRABS. Two in the scavenge loop and one in the pressure loop. Under 200 degrees on a hot day. Sorry about the picture quality. Lynn E. Hanover

In a message dated 8/26/2019 8:20:58 AM Eastern Standard Time, flyrotary@lancaironline.net writes:

Todd, just catching up on the blog after a week of vacation ... my main thought is that doubling your Surface AREA will have far more positive affect than the negative effects of halving your CUBIC area ... cubic inches of radiator is misleading - surface area is far more important.

Jeff

I'm considering making some changes to my cooling system as it is not adequate when flying low & slow, as on recent flights on a few hot days. I'm still using a set of evap cores as they fit the limited space on either side of the PSRU in an RV cowl.

Bill Jepson made mention of a curved radiator earlier this summer, which has been simmering on a hot spot way back in my brain ever since. I've spent the last few days looking real hard at the idea.

The size and shape of the curve looks like it would conform quite nicely to the bottom of the RV cowl. so that the top of the rad would be perpendicular to the airflow while the bottom will curve away. This would require a new ducts to be glassed to take advantage of this, but that would allow for more time and room to slow down the airflow for greater efficiency. It would also almost double the square inches of cooling area than I currently have, however as it is thinner it would provide half of the cubic inches of volume as I currently have.

The small thick rads I currently use were chosen more with high speeds in mind (well, and of course ease of installation), but now I'm thinking that I'd rather have a thinner rad that would perform better on the ground and in slow flight. These curved rads seem like they could offer some advantages.

I've just found them listed on Amazon.ca for $148CAD with free shipping (x2)which seems pretty reasonable, so for $300, it might offer a significant cooling upgrade.... or maybe not.

I wish I could find an old one to cut open to inspect, test weld, check for fit, etc.

Does anybody have any thoughts on the idea? I'm on the edge so it wouldn't take much to push me over, or pull me back....

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