Ever wonder if airplanes have radiators? If you’re familiar with the mechanics of automobiles, you probably know the importance of a radiator. Radiators are devices that work in conjunction with a liquid medium, coolant, to regulate engine temperatures. Coolant will absorb heat at the engine, after which it will carry the heat to the radiator. A fan in front of or behind the radiator will then release the heat.
Airplane Engines Product Heat
Like automotive engines, airplane engines produce heat. Automotive engines produce heat as a byproduct of combustion. They burn gas and air, resulting in hot exhaust gases. Airplane engines produce heat in a similar way. They burn jet fuel and air, which in turn produces hot exhaust gases.
Airplane engines require cooling so that they don’t overheat. If left unchecked, the heat produced during the combustion process may result in damage. It may warp metal surfaces, or it may compromise seals. Therefore, aerospace manufacturing companies must implement a cooling solution.
Most Airplane Engines Are Air-Cooled
While there are exceptions, most modern-day airplane engines are air-cooled. Traditional automotive engines are liquid-cooled via a radiator and coolant. Airplane engines, in comparison, are air-cooled. With that said, some airplane engines may still use a radiator.
There are airplane engines that use an air-based radiator. The radiator serves the same purpose of regulating temperatures as that of an automotive radiator. The difference, of course, is that it uses air as the heat-removing medium. Air will travel through the airplane engine and through the radiator to remove heat. In cars and other automobiles, in comparison, coolant will travel through these components.
Other airplane engines are air-cooled without a radiator. Instead of a radiator, they feature cooling fins. Cooling fins are thin protrusions that allow heat to dissipate. The heat produced by an airplane engine may travel to the cooling fins. As air flows over the cooling fins, the heat will be released.
Some of the benefits of air cooling for airplane engines include:
- Lighter weight compared to liquid cooling
- Improved fuel efficiency
- Simple design
- Easier to maintain
In Conclusion
Airplanes may or may not have a radiator. Radiators are cooling devices that work in conjunction with some type of medium to regulate engine temperatures. Some of them use coolant as the medium, and others use air as the medium. Even without a radiator, an airplane’s engines may be cooled with fins.
