The Effect of Nonuniform Inlet Air Temperature Distribution on the Sizing of the Engine Radiator

A mathematical method for determination of the heat transfer effectiveness of engine radiator accounting for the effect of two-dimensional nonuniformity of the inlet temperature of the cooling air flow is presented. Using several typical models of the nonuniform inlet air temperature distribution, the effectivenesses of the engine radiator are calculated for various design/operating conditions. A Nonuniformity Factor of the inlet air temperature distribution is introduced to characterize the maldistribution of the inlet temperature of the cooling air flow. The effect of the nonuniformity of the inlet air temperature distribution on the sizing of the engine radiator is discussed.