In this paper a computational method to calculate the flow rate distribution through a vehicle radiator is outlined. A typical testing method for radiator flow rate distribution is to cover the front grille openings in various combinations and then measure – via anemometers – the change in radiator flow rate to determine the contribution of a specific cooling opening to the overall cooling flow. However, this changes the contribution distribution: a low pressure region will be created behind the covered grille and will draw air from another area. It would be desirable to capture the contribution air flow distribution through the radiator during normal operating modes (e.g. when all the grille openings are clear). This would be challenging in a testing scenario, but relatively straightforward for a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Rather than using the typical velocity magnitude or velocity vector visualization techniques, tracing path lines downstream from the cooling openings to the radiator face leads to a method to allow a more realistic description as well as a better way to convey this information. Basically, the intersection points of the path lines are trapped on the face of the radiator, and then triangulated, and the flow distribution is calculated using these triangular elements. Finally, an image is created to visually convey the flow rate distribution.
Article of Honda R&D Technical Review Vol.20 No.1 (43 - 49)