Air Coolers

By increasing the pressure of the air the density is also increased. This allows more fuel per cycle stroke to be burnt increasing the power of the engine per unit size. Associated with the increase in pressure of air passing through the compressor of the turbocharger is an increase in temperature. From the general gas equation; p.v p v m ! T m.!.T pressure volume constant

mass absolute temperature gas

m/v = p /R.T "t can be seen that should the should the absolute temperature increase at the same rate as the pressure then the effects of compression is negated. Air coolers are therefore used# these are situated down stream from the compressor# before the air enters the scavenging ports. The coolant is generally sea water circulated through finned tubes# the cross section of which may be of various shapes including round and oval. The thin fins are normally soldered on to the tubes but if the tubes are round they may be e$panded into the fins. Flat sided an oval tubes are soldered into the tube plates whilst round tubes are e$panded. An allowance must be made for e$pansion# in some cases the tubes are formed into a %&%'shape# in other one end of the tube is fi$ed# the other end sits in a floating tube plate able to move in the casing and sealed by o'rings. An ultimate limit is placed on the degree of cooling# this being to prevent thermal shocking especially of the piston crown# prevent e$cessively increasing cylinder lube oil viscosity and keeping above the dew point. At the dew point water droplets will form which can scour the cylinder lub oil of the liner walls. (here engines operate close to or below the dew point then water separators are fitted downstream of the cooler. )rid type separators consisting of a pair of angled blades and relying on the higher inertia of the water droplets can remove upto *+, of the water.

Air cooler grid type water separator