Airplanes typically require a cooling mechanism for their engine or engines. As they burn a mixture of fuel and air, they will produce heat as a byproduct. If left unchecked, this heat can cause catastrophic damage. While most cars and other vehicles use liquid coolant to regulate their engine temperatures, though, airplanes typically leverage an air-based cooling solution, such as cowl flaps.
What Are Cowl Flaps?
Cowl flaps are adjustable panels used to cool airplane engines. They are known as “cowl flaps” because they are found on the cowling of an airplane.
Cowlings, of course, are protecting coverings or housings that contain an engine. When inspecting the cowling of an airplane, you may notice several panels. These are cowl flaps, and they are used to regulate the temperature of the enclosed engine via airflow.
How Cowl Flaps Work
Airplanes typically don’t use liquid coolant to regulate their engine temperatures due to the potential for it freezing. A typical commercial jet flies at an altitude of roughly 30,000 feet. The air temperature at this altitude is about minus 30 degrees to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If airplanes used liquid coolant, the coolant would freeze, thereby rendering it useless. To overcome this challenge, many airplanes use cowl flaps.
Cowl flaps can be partially or fully opened to allow air to increase airflow into the engine compartment. Airplane engines are often designed with cooling fins. When the cowl flaps are open, air will flow over these cooling fins, thus cooling the engines.
While effective at cooling aircraft engines, cowl flaps come with some disadvantages. They increase drag, for instance. When an airplane’s cowl flaps are open, it will creae more drag. Therefore, the airplane will consume more fuel during flight.
When Do Airplanes Open Their Cowl Flaps?
Airplanes will typically open their cowl flaps during takeoffs. Takeoffs are resource intensive, so they cause aircraft engines to generate a substantial amount of heat. Pilots can open their engines’ cowl flaps, however, to ensure a safe takeoff. On the other hand, pilots may close their negines’ cowl flaps during landings.
In Conclusion
When researching cooling methods for aircraft engines, you may come across cowl flaps. Cowl flaps work in conjunction with cooling fins to regulate the temperature of aircraft engines. They consist of adjustable panels or flaps on the housing of an aircraft engine. Using a handle in the cockpit — or an electronic switch in the cockpit — pilots can open or close them.
