Automobiles produce large amounts of heat while working. Which results in the engine getting heated up. This excessive heat has to be released to avoid permanent damage to the engine. In order to maintain the engine at an optimum temperature, automobiles are equipped with a cooling system. The cooling system helps to lower the excessive temperature of the engine.
The job of the cooling system is to maintain the temperature of an engine for better performance. Extreme temperature not only affects engine efficiency but also damages it. In a way cooling system helps in maintaining the temperature of an engine by dissipating the excess heat. There are two types of cooling systems:
- Liquid cooling system.
- Air cooling system.
Liquid Cooling System
In a liquid cooling system, mostly water-based coolant is preferred as a coolant. Coolant is circulated through the hot engine, during this process the excess heat from the engine is transferred to the coolant resulting in decreasing the engine’s temperature and increasing the coolant’s temperature.
The hot coolant is now run through the radiator (a system comprised of fins and tubes with a huge exterior surface area). Here, the coolant gives out the excess heat and cools down. When the automobile is in a moving state the excess heat is dissipated into the surrounding air by blowing the hot air into the outer atmosphere. But when the engine is turned on and the automobile is in the stationary state then with the help of a fan present in the radiator, hot air is blown into the outer atmosphere, which results in dissipating the heat.
In some places, the outer temperature falls below the rated temperature of the coolant which results in freezing the coolant and bursting of the coolant pipe. To avoid this some anti-freezing chemicals such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, or propylene glycol are added to the coolant. These chemicals lower the freezing point of the coolant and prevent it from getting frozen.
Air Cooling System
An air cooling system is an old method used to cool automobile engines. Generally, this system is mostly found in old automobile designs and rarely in new versions. The air-cooled engine system is comprised of extended aluminum fins and a fan. When the engine gets heated up the heat is spread all over the surface area of fins. With the help of a fan, cool air is blown on the fin’s surface, due to which the heat is dissipated to the external atmosphere, resulting in cooling the engine.
In some automobiles, the engine is equipped with a duct around it so that continuous cool air can be circulated through this duct and prevent the engine from getting heated up.
The cooling system plays an important role in maintaining the engine’s temperature and preventing it from getting damaged. It is important to maintain the cooling system of your automobile in good condition. In a way, the cooling system enhances engine performance and maintains your automobile in good condition.
