Title: Influence of cooling exit flow on aerodynamic performance with different outlet layouts

Authors: Chenguang Lai; Yasuaki Kohama; Shigeru Obayashi; Shinkyu Jeong

Addresses: Key Laboratory of Manufacture and Test Techniques for Automobile Parts, Chongqing University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Hongguang Rd., Banan, Chongqing 400054, China ' New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, 6-6-10, Aramaki Aza Aoba Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan ' Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 9808577, Japan ' Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 9808577, Japan

Abstract: Experimental and numerical methods were performed to investigate the influence of engine-cooling exit flow on aerodynamic performance. The engine-cooling channel was constructed at a simplified notchback model with various outlet layouts. The changes in the main aerodynamic coefficients with different cooling exit flow inclination angles and cooling outlet locations were measured and evaluated, and the reasons and mechanisms were analysed and discussed. The results indicate that reducing the inclination angle is an effective method to improve the cruise performance of a passenger vehicle, and wheels and wheel-housings have significant effects on interference between the underflow and the cooling exit flow.

Keywords: cooling exit flow; aerodynamic performance; outlet layouts; exit flow inclination angle; outlet location; engine cooling; vehicle design; notchback models; cruise performance; passenger vehicles; wheels; wheel housings; underflow; vehicle performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2012.048980

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2012 Vol.59 No.4, pp.331 - 349

Received: 30 Aug 2010
Accepted: 10 Sep 2011
Published online: 23 Apr 2013 *

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