RichardHH wrote:richard_leeds wrote:Several people have mentioned the benefit of heating air in the sidepods with the expansion accelerating the flow. You've talked about radiators, but there could also be a rather hot exhaust pipe routed through that space too. Even more heat.
I personally agre with Richards assumtion about the Heat build up from the exhaust pipes, especially if they are routed to the front for the FEE. Thats quite a lot of red hot surface area. Even if it looks like they are routing 'cool' air (as in not heated through the radiaters) along the exhaust, the heat build up in the center air flow could be quite significant, hence the temp stickers on the crash structure.
Written on my iPhone please excuse my grammar.
I've been trying to prove this theory for over a week. Most people seem to doubt it despite the fact that all of the design features of the side pods and radiator point to the fact that they're trying to get the air moving through the side pods as fast as possible. They want it to flow as fast as possible out the back by pressurizing the sidepods via huge inlets and tiny exits. Now I believe there maximizing this a few ways... 1) There using vertical radiators for max flow. 2) They're letting a small amount of air around the sides of the radiators for a little more flow. 3) larger sidepod inlets for maximum air ramming effect to build more pressure. 4) on top of all that there utilizing the heat of the exhaust and the hot air exiting the radiators which serves in expanding the air and creating more pressure. All of these features point to creating as much pressure possible and shooting it out the back over the diffuser.
For the doubters.... Yes the air has a turbulent flow... And yes the radiators have some resistance... I understand your doubts But it doesn't matter because the flow is constantly pressurized and then is forced out a tiny hole. Kinda like a muffler (the muffler in this example would be the radiator Aka your resistance)... Mufflers create resistance and turbulence but the same amount of air still flows out the muffler compared to the same engine with straight pipes. Why? Because it's under constant pressure, I your pressure source is strong enough it will force what goes in, out. Now add a nozzle to the end of the muffler (Aka your small sidepod outlets)... The air is going to flow with much faster velocity out the end of the exhaust ( or the sidepod). Ok so now that we know this would you say that 200mph airstream that enters the sidepod would deflect off the radiators and find it's way out another crevice or back out of the front of the sidepod? Would you say that theres minimal air entering the side pod and that the radiators are just for show? Hell no! And that's the only scenario that wouldn't make this system work.
The doubtedrs are thinking of this like a aerodynamic component outside the car. You can't think of it that way... You have to think like a exhaust designer who thinks 90% to reduce pressure within. They don't put diffusers in the exhaust to comb the air an make it less turbulent because it's under pressure and it won't make a difference. Point of the matter is what goes in must come out when under pressure. And the air coming out of the sidepod tiny little exits is definitely coming out faster and more directed with less turbulence then when it went in. If it helps you guys believe just think of the radiators as creating a little back pressure like in a 2 stroke exhaust.
If this isn't the case... Then good luck to Renault. If the doubters are correct then this means that theyre choking the radiators. I don't think this is happening though. Because it would be pretty dumb to build those dumbo ear sidepod inlets for no reason. And again If this isn't true they would have a redbull size hole to vent the air instead of well designed vents thy disperse air over the diffuser.
I'll bet 10 bucks that the open channel inside of the radiator to allow additional flow is exactly the width of the exhaust wrapped in a layer of Kevlar. Anyone wanna bet?
Go back a couple pages and read my posts... I think I made some good arguments. Let me know what you think
