August 3, 2021 Alan Walker
As piston aircraft engines operate through the combustion of fuel-and-air mixtures, a great amount of heat is generated over time which can pose hazards to surrounding components if left alone. While many piston aircraft utilize the flow of air to cool down many internal components, the general assembly of such aircraft engines will often deter equal cooling to all cylinders. In order to achieve more uniform cooling to mitigate the formation of hotspots, most air-cooled piston engines utilize structures known as cowling and baffles.
In general, cowling is a type of removable cover that serves to guard the engine of an aircraft, directing airflow for the means of cooling and reducing drag on exposed parts. While conducting standard flight operations, air will flow through a nose bowl opening in the cowling in order to reach internal chambers and components. Under the cowling, an assembly of rigid aluminum baffles and baffle seals are arranged in a way to create two chambers. These chambers are situated above one another, the upper chamber being above the cylinders and the lower chamber being below the cylinders and behind the engine.
There also exists a difference in pressure between the two chambers, the upper chamber exhibiting a higher pressure than the one below. This is intentional as it affects the flow of air for cooling, ensuring that atmospheric air flows from the nose bowl, through the upper chamber, and into the low-pressure chamber with ease. As the vertical flow of air moves through the engine baffles and assembly, the cylinders can be cooled for their protection and movement is from top-to-bottom.
The amount of cooling airflow that is able to move through the baffle and cowling assembly is determined by the pressure differential between the upper and lower engine chamber. This differential is known as the “delta-P” and may be managed through the arrangement of the cowl flaps. By opening the cowl flaps, air pressure in the lower chamber can be increased, thus raising delta-P. As the delta-P value increases, so too does the volume of cooling air that passes through the assembly. It is important to remain aware that the differential value between the two chambers is often extremely small, typically being a difference of 0.25 PSI. To ensure low cooling drag, most manufacturers will assemble the engine with the lowest delta-P value possible.
Due to the minute difference in air pressure between the two chambers, it is crucial that the engine baffles and seals remain correctly attached at all times so that engine cooling does not sharply fall due to leaking. Leaking may occur due to various reasons, often being the result of an incorrectly positioned baffle or seal, a missing component, or damage to the assembly. These issues then cause an alternate path for air to flow through the engine, preventing air from being directed to the cylinder cooling fins. The seals are often at most risk, needing to be curved up and forward into the high-pressure chamber to enhance the delta-P value. If they do not curve correctly, the airflow may be directed away from the cowling and thus heat will increase within the compartment.
In order to ensure that all components remain secure, it is crucial that operators or maintenance personnel are very careful when implementing all parts. Seals should also be correctly curved for airflow direction, and cowling fastener components should have high integrity to secure the assembly. Wrinkles or cracks in any component may also deter proper airflow, thus one should always inspect the interior compartment every time the cowling is removed and replaced. If you are conducting maintenance endeavors for the cowling and baffles of your aircraft and require an adapter cowling component, aft cowling parts, or other various aerospace items, there is no better alternative to Sourcing Streamlined.
Sourcing Streamlined is a trusted supplier of various aviation components and aircraft parts, providing customers access to an unrivaled inventory of over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items that have been sourced from leading global manufacturers that we trust. Take your time in exploring our various part and manufacturer catalog, or use our included search engine and filters to quickly narrow down results with ease. Once you have established which items you are most interested in, you may then request a quote for your comparisons through the submission of an RFQ form on our website. With representatives readily on standby 24/7x365, responses to requests will be given in just 15 minutes or less upon the receipt of a completed form.
Share
