Study on the effect of different combinations of engine coolant additives on the heat dissipation rate of radiators

Abstract

The performance, reliability, and life of a diesel engine largely depend on its efficiency to dispose waste heat under all weather conditions, especially at high ambient temperatures. The coolant of the engine plays a significant role in removing a major portion of this heat from the engine. Although pure water is the most efficient of all, it is essential to add certain additives to modify some of its deleterious actions on the engine and its components. For a given radiator configuration, the effectiveness of a coolant in dissipating heat is primarily governed by its composition and thereby its physical and chemical properties. Thus, a study on the effects of different combinations of engine coolant additives on the extent of heat dissipation was carried out. The study mainly concentrated on the use of cutting oil, ethylene glycol, and three-component additives (sodium nitrate, potassium dichromate, and trisodium phosphate), which were carefully analysed in a laboratory and compared on the basis of their respective performances.