S.d. Oduro,
Volume 2, Issue 3 (7-2012)
Abstract
This thesis looked at the effect of clay and silt soil blocking the heat transfer area of the radiator and its
effect on the engine coolant through the conduct of experiments and a mathematical model developed. The
results indicated that the percentage area covered resulted in a proportional increase of the inlet and outlet
temperatures of the coolant in the radiator. The mathematically model developed also predicted the
experimental data very well. Regression analysis pointed out that every 10% increase area of the radiator
covered with silt soil resulted in an increase of about 17 oC of the outlet temperature of the radiator coolant.
Similarly, using clay as a cover material, 10% of the area covered of the radiator resulted in an increase of
about 20 oC of the outlet temperature of the radiator coolant. Statistical analysis pointed to the fact that the
result obtained for clay, silt and the mathematical model were not significantly different. Thus, irrespective
of the type of material that blocks the radiator surface area, the coolant rises with proportion of the radiator
covered.
