CALCULATION OF RADIATOR FAN AIRFLOW (VENTILATION)

REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 45 DEGREE

CELSIUS WITHIN DIESEL ENGINE GENERATOR ENCLOSURE.

From the equation of Heat Transfer:

Q = ṁ x cp x ∆T

Where:
Q = rate of heat (energy) to be transferred (in Joule/sec),
Q = Qengine + Qalternator, (ie. Heat dissipated by the engine and alternator to the
ambient, respectively)
ṁ = mass flow rate of air (in kg/sec)
cp = specific heat of air (in J/kg.K)
∆T = Temperature difference between ambient air (from outside of enclosure) and air within
enclosure ie, ∆T = Te – Ta, (Enclosure Temperature – Ambient Temperature), in Kelvin or
Celsius.

Also,
mass flow rate of air, ṁ = ρ x V̇
where,
ρ = density of air (kg/m3),
and V̇ = Volumetric flow rate of air (m3/sec)

Therefore:

Q = ṁ x cp x ∆T
= (ρV̇) x cp x ∆T

From the above formula, the volumetric flow rate of air required to dissipate the heat off the
enclosure can be derived as:

V̇ = Q __
ρ x cp x ∆T
From engine and alternator datasheets:
Heat rejected by the engine to the ambient at 110% load,
Qengine = 100kW = 100kJ/sec

Heat rejected by the alternator to the ambient at 110% load is derived from alternator
efficiency data at 110% load @ 0.8pf, ie. = 95.71% @ 1320kWe, where 4.29% is considered
as Heat loss.
Qalternator = (1320 / 0.9571) – 1320
= 59kW = 59kJ/sec

From property table of air at 1 atm:

density of air @ 45degC, ρ = 1.109 kg/m3
specific heat of air @ 45degC, cp = 1007 J/kg.K

∆T = Te – Ta, (Enclosure Temperature – Ambient Temperature)

= 45 – 39 = 6o K

Thus, the volumetric flow rate of ventilation air required to dissipate the heat off the
enclosure, to attain enclosure air temperature within 45 degC:

V̇ = Qengine + Qalternator
ρ x cp x ∆T

= (100 + 59) x 1000 J/sec____

(1.109 kg/m3) (1007 J/kg.K) (6o K)

= 23.729 m3/sec
= 50,280 ft3/min or CFM