Aircraft Engines: Air-Cooled vs. Liquid-Cooled Engines
In order for most aircraft to fly, they require the combustion of fuel and air mixtures for propulsion generation. For most aircraft engines, this process results in high amounts of heat that can eventually begin to cause issues and damage to surrounding components if left unchecked. To avoid the dangers of engine failures, many aircraft will utilize liquid and air cooling systems in order to manage temperatures. As each method presents its own advantages and disadvantages, it can be useful to familiarize oneself with each to find what is best for a particular aircraft.
Liquid cooling is a temperature management method that is often seen in automobile engines and various aircraft. For liquid-cooled engines, various parts are put in place in order to circulate a coolant around engine components so that heat can be absorbed and removed. Due to the ability to control fluids in such assemblies, cooling can be more uniform to prevent hot spots as well as benefit performance. Additionally, liquid-cooled engines are not at risk for shock cooling which is when components may be damaged due to rapid decreases in temperatures. Nevertheless, liquid cooling systems do add weight to the aircraft which may be detrimental for certain models and their complexity makes them less adaptable for defense applications.
Air-cooled engines are those that rely on the airflow of the surrounding atmosphere to cool down heated components. As temperatures at high altitudes are often very low, airflow can be sufficient for protecting many aircraft engines. Despite this, it is important that the air is able to reach various parts of the assembly as engine components such as cylinders are often too large to completely be placed in the airflow. With the use of baffles, cowls, and other structural components, air can be directed to specific areas of air-cooled engines to efficiently manage heat and minimize hot spots. Unlike liquid-cooled engines, air-cooled engines are much more adaptable for military use, and they do not add a significant amount of weight to the entire aircraft. Nevertheless, liquid-cooled engines do require a large amount of air for cooling due to the fact that fluids are much more efficient at absorbing heat as compared to air. Additionally, air-cooled engines must be protected during cold months in which air flow may be overly effective, and winterization kits are commonly used for such instances.
Over the years, multiple air-cooled engines have been developed for varying uses. Rotary radial engines were common during World War I, and they utilized air cooling to protect their components from heat. Despite this, such aircraft engines were incapable of being used for commercial purposes. To remedy this, aircraft engine designers created static radial engines which served as an improvement over their predecessors. Static radial engines can be used for both military and commercial applications, and they are much more efficient than rotary radial engines.
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