From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Recommendations to prevent radiator blockages using distilled water and sodium phosphate.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\3\ Scan058 | |
| Date | 26th August 1929 | |
| x4516. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY1/G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 26. 8. 29. X. 766 X.1066 RADIATORS. --------- Referring to C17/C13. 8. 29. with attached papers which I return herewith, since receiving the memo in question on the 17th. inst., I have been giving this matter very particular attention and have spent time with Mr. Smith in going carefully over the whole matter. I now feel that we have something more definate and positive which is likely to make a material difference in the direction of preventing the stopping up of radiators in the hands customers in normal use as recently experienced. Our recommendations are somewhat modified from those we had previously made which represented the best we knew at the time. with our present knowledge we definately recommend the following procedure:- (1) On all cars at the Works the cooling system should be filled with distilled water in place of tap water, as we find it requires very little of the calcium and magnesium salts in solution to set up the trouble. We are of the opinion that we should use our present steam system by the addition of a condenser to produce distilled water for this purpose. (2) As a result of HL's experiments it would appear that the best protection is obtained by the use of sodium phosphate, the amount required to add to the cooling water being 1 1/4 ozs. HL. in his experience with the presence of this small percentage of sodium phosphate appeared to practically inhibit the action entirely. The above represents our proposals for new or clean radiators. In regard to radiators which have been in service and are either :- (a) entirely blocked. or (b) likely to be partially blocked, our recommendations are as before viz :- | ||