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).
Radiator flow impairment due to slime and precipitates from hard water, and potential solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\3\ scan0283 | |
| Date | 19th January 1928 | |
| To R. {Sir Henry Royce} from Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rn. {Mr Robinson} c. to BJ. Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} OY. X4681 Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 3/LG19.1.28. RADIATORS. X8250 We find that the car radiators can have their flow impaired by a film of slime collecting in the top two or three rows of tubes and adhering to the insoluable precipitates formed when hard water boils. This trouble has been shewn up on the new small type tubes 7/6.25 mm. dia. having only .75 mm. gap between consecutive tubes. We find the matrix can be cleared by circulating a mixture known as "Kleenwell" in the system. This is composed of 90% caustic soda and 10% sodium cyanide and is mixed with the water. In order to avoid aggravating this trouble, which exists on the standard radiator, particularly in certain localities where the water is very hard, we are trying 7/6 mm. tubes, so reverting to normal water spaces. We are inclined to think that the slime may be caused by excessive zeal in lubricating the water pump gland. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||