In this post, we will going to learn what is air cooled engine and how it works. This article will also go over the parts, comparison, and uses.
What is a Air Cooled Engine?
Air cooled engines are depend on airflow passing directly over their hot sections or heat dissipation fins to provide cooling and maintain the engine operating temperature.
Liquid-cooled designs require a separate radiator, coolant reservoir, piping, and pumps; air-cooled designs are significantly simpler. Air-cooled engines are commonly used in applications where the main objective is simplicity or weight.
Due to their simplicity, they can be used in tiny generators and related applications, such as chainsaws and lawn mowers.
These features also make them very appropriate for usage in aviation, where they are frequently found in bigger aircraft’s auxiliary power units and in general aviation aircraft. They’re also frequently seen on motorcycles because of their simplicity.
Read Also: List of Different Types of Engines and Their Uses
Components of Air Cooled Engine
Most of air-cooling systems have very basic parts. The cooling fan is located in a semicircular duct. The cylinder head is also covered by the ducting, and the inside of it is equipped with baffles that direct airflow over the cooling fins of the engine and through an oil cooler.
The airflow over a thermostat, which is controlled by a lever, is directed beneath the cylinders. By regulating the quantity of air that reaches the fan, the valve keeps the engine temperature at the proper level.
After passing through the engine and thermostat, the air is pushed out the back of the vehicle or routed through a heat transfer system that feeds hot water to the heater.
Typically, air-cooled engines use the exhaust system’s heat or have their own separate heater. The heating systems of several older models combine these two approaches.
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Air Cooled Engine Working
Air-cooled engines dissipate engine heat by utilizing the air that passes through the engine when the bike is in motion. They have fins on the outside to increase their surface area and allow air to travel through.
This cooling technique is lightweight, relatively easy to use, and doesn’t require any extra equipment. This explains why it has been successfully used for such a long time. It is also possible to make cooling fins attractive by modifying their shape.
On scooters and other vehicles, however, when the engine is housed within the vehicle body, air is occasionally sent to the fins using an engine-powered fan—a process known as “forced air cooling.”
Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Cooled Engine
Advantages
Liquid-cooled engines need radiators, water pumps, coolant, hoses, among other parts. Air-cooled engines do not. Obviously, air-cooled engines do not have coolant leaking issues.
They won’t ever need replacement parts like the radiator or water pump, which can be very advantageous. Because they contain fewer parts than liquid-cooled engines, they are typically lighter as well.
If you’re operating the vehicle in extremely cold temperatures, air-cooled engines warm up better. Plus, they don’t freeze as fast as liquid-cooled engines.
Disadvantages
However, there are also some significant disadvantages. For starters, air-cooled engines are prone to overheating. Yeah, that is a disappointment.
They are also more expensive to produce. The massive fans necessary to cool the engine can consume a significant amount of power. Air-cooled engines are not bad or ineffective because of this.
In reality, air-cooled engines perform incredibly well in motorbikes, recreational vehicles, and some types of aircraft. However, when it comes to automobiles, most people believe that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Read Also: How Does A Four Stroke Engine Work?
Common Uses of Air Cooled Engine
The air-cooled engine has a long and popular history. Air-cooled engines were employed by various automakers to power their cars in the 1960s and 1970s.
The Volkswagen air-cooled engine is one of the most beloved, but the Porsche 911 air-cooled engine is one of the fastest. It was a feature of the first Beetle. Although it’s difficult to find an air-cooled engine on an auto assembly line these days, that doesn’t indicate they’re completely dead.
You’re most likely dealing with an air-cooled engine whether you get on a motorbike, an ATV, or even a typical riding mower (though some are liquid-cooled).
However, due to the fact that many helicopters and small planes have been air-cooled from the start, aircraft have the longest air-cooled track record.
Read Also: What Is A Two Stroke Engine?
Comparison Between Air Cooled and Water Cooled Engine
| Air Cooled Engine | Water Cooled Engine |
|---|---|
| In this engine, air is a medium of cooling. | In this engine, water is a medium of cooling. |
| Air cooled engines are consists of fins. | Water cooled engines are consists of water jacket, water pump, radiator, thermostat. |
| Construction is easy. | Construction is difficult. |
| Air cooled engine require less space for installation. | Water cooled engine require more space for installation. |
| This type of engine produces more noise. | This type of engine produces less noise. |
| It can run with all the climate changes. | In cold climate countries water will freeze. Therefore, this type of engine is not appropriate for such countries. |
| Air cooled engines has no sediments and corrosion in the system. | Water cooled engine has corrosion and sediments problem. |
| This cooling process is not affected by any damage of one or two fins. | The cooling process is affected by a water leak. |
| This system cools the engine randomly. | This system cools the engine uniformly. |
| In this, conductivity of temperature is low. | In this, conductivity of temperature is high. |
| It is not suitable multi cylinder engines. | It is suitable for multi cylinder engines. |
| The production and maintenance cost of these engines are low. | The production and maintenance cost of these engines are high. |
| These are mostly used two wheelers. | These are commonly used in lower, medium and heavy duty vehicles. |
Wrapping It Up
That’s it. Thanks for reading. I hope I have covered everything. It would be helpful if you could let me know if there was anything I missed or if you have any doubts about anything I wrote.
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FAQs
Air-cooled engines use direct air circulation to cool heat dissipation fins and hot areas to keep them within operating temperatures.
When it comes to the cooling ability of an engine, liquid cooled engines are better than air cooled engines because the liquid cooled engine can provide a better cooling capacity.
Air-cooled engines are more subject to overheating, more expensive to manufacture, and can compromise power efficiency due to huge cooling fans.
In simple terms, air-cooled engines are built to operate fast for extended periods of time. The noise is one of the distinguishing features of air-cooled engines. Compared to their water-cooled counterparts, this engines can frequently produce a louder noise since there are less waterways in the block and head to help with sound insulation.