Research of Car Cooler Thermal Performance Depending on the Mileage of Cooler and Coolant

Abstract

The effect of car cooler mileage and coolant mileage on cooler thermal performance was experimentally investigated. The water–ethylene-glycol-based coolant with mileages of 0 km, 50,000 km, and 100,000 km was circulated in new and used car coolers with mileages of 0 km and 100,000 km, respectively. The heating and cooling time of coolants, heat transfer rate, and thermal performance were evaluated. The coolant with a mileage of 0 km in the new cooler achieved a heating time of 41 min and 30 s, which is 8 min less time compared to the coolant with mileage of 100,000 km in the used cooler. When the operating temperature was reached earlier, the engine ran more efficiently and consumed less fuel. The coolant with 0 km mileage in the new cooler achieved a cooling time of 4 min and 30 s, which is 3 min and 30 s less time compared to the coolant with 50,000 km mileage in the new cooler. The new coolant in the new cooler achieved the shortest heating time and cooling time and the highest thermal performance (η = 0.79). The used cooler with the new coolant only achieved a one-time decrease compared to the new cooler and new coolant. The coolant with 50,000 km and 100,000 km mileage for the new cooler and used cooler reached a drop of 1.01 to 1.02 times compared to the new cooler. Coolant and coolers with higher mileage have no significant effect on the thermal performance of the cooler and the correct cooling function of the car engine.