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).
Improving the radiator and cooling system to prevent water loss from steam priming on the Goshawk model.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\I\May1922\ Scan106 | |
| Date | 10th December 1920 | |
| (2) (8) In the system as arranged we rather expect that on the water boiling a quantity of steam will accumulate in the head, and push out of the radiator a volume of water only. This is what we term priming and in comparing this with the 40/50, we may find the Goshawk distinctly worse as at present arranged, This we want Mr. Hives to determine. (9) As an improved arrangement we sent a drawing having 3 water outlets. This ought to have the effect of the steam coming away as soon as it is generated, and so prevent the loss of water, as water. This scheme of 3 outlets should be tested also in connection with an open return trough, which trough is drained back into the radiator. (10) In connection with this investigation we want to find out how much steam accumulates in the system below the water lying in the radiator. To do this we can run the engine at full power until the water boils, then close the throttle, keeping the engine running, and as the whole cools down the shrinkage of water will indicate the volume of steam that existed in the system. This we fear will be considerable, but if so we hope the improved system of pipes will considerably reduce it to possibly less, (pro rata to the HP.) than the 40/50. It will be noticed in the pipe arrangement with the 3 deliveries that we have introduced a small extra reservoir, behind the radiator. This will give a slightly increased capacity for holding water, and permit the pipes to be all in one plane, and this small reservoir will assist to separate the steam from the water, and can also be used to hold a thermostat when this is fitted, as we anticipate will be the case for certain markets, such as Canada. A.R. | ||