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).
Engine cooling system tests, detailing tank capacities, water levels, and the influence of tank position on performance.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\December1930-February1931\ Scan171 | |
| Date | 15th January 1931 guessed | |
| - 4 - The capacities of the tank are viz:- Total capacity = 5.1 gallons. Water required in tank for the cold filling level = 2.5 galls. Air space (in tank) = 2.6 gallons. The air space in the cylinder jackets = 1.5 gallons. When the engine starts the nominal reserve of 2.5 gallons is reduced by 60%. The above test proves, that if it was required to carry the extra water to fill up the air space when the engine started the capacity of header tanks would have to be considerably increased to prevent any loss with the rise in temperature. TEST. (3). Further tests were made to find out whether if on continuing to run the engine, the reduced level in the header tank remained constant with the rise in temperature. It was found that with the rise in temperature the level in the tank rises, and tests were made to find out to what extent this happened. The building up in the tank is influenced by:- (a) Position the tank is mounted relative to the cylinder jacket. (b) This position governs the air space in the cylinder jackets at static water level. (c) Engine speed with regard to water flow. (a) POSITION OF TANK. Curve 211F. shows a comparison in tank positions and the effect on building up. Curve (1) 211F. the tank (Hart type) was mounted on the engine (which was tilted 15º) as installed in the aircraft. The air space in the cylinder jackets when the system is full = .85 gallons. The engine was run in this manner when warming up and testing in the aircraft prior to flight. It will be seen that steam forms very rapidly in the cylinder jackets even when the temperature of the water in the header tank is as low as 40 to 45ºC. This is indicated by the contd. | ||