Cooling System in Automobiles: Functions, Parts and Types

Your car’s cooling system serves to keep the temperature at an optimal level and make sure that internal combustion does not overheat the car’s engine. This cooling process either works with the help of water or air. However, both cooling systems have their own set of benefits to offer.

Here, you will find more detailed elaboration on how a cooling system in automobile works, its components and multiple types of cooling systems available

The main function of a cooling system is to manage your car engine’s temperature, which tends to rise due to internal combustion. Coolant in this system flows through the passage in an engine, absorbing heat from combustion. After travelling through multiple channels, this coolant returns to the radiator. This is where it loses heat and returns to a cooler temperature with the help of an air stream.

Internal combustion engines of recent times use both air and water or either of these components as coolants to reduce heating levels in your car’s engine. There are also special purpose engines that incorporate air from the atmosphere to cool down the engine. These cooling systems are small, less complex and lightweight

Even though water works better than air in speeding up this cooling process, it adds more complexity, cost and weight to an engine. These particular systems work best for vehicles with a higher power engine, which generates more heat and can handle more weight

The sole job of a cooling system is to move coolant through all the channels present in an engine block. Water pump pushes the coolant through the cylinder block. While travelling through the channels, this coolant absorbs any heat your car's engine produces.

After the coolant gets out of the engine, it is directed towards the radiator, where it cools down with the help of airflow in the car's radiator grill. If, during any instance, the fluid's temperature goes below a certain amount, it bypasses the radiator and gets directed towards the engine block. Until it reaches a certain temperature, this coolant will continue to circulate. Then, a valve on the thermostat will open up, making way for the fluid to pass through radiator and begin the process of cooling.

The main function of this cooling system is to make sure that the temperature of an engine remains at a constant level ensuring its optimum functionality. Overheating of a car engine results in damage to internal parts. 

Similarly, the vehicle cooling system prevents temperature from dropping low during winter. Hence, your car’s cooling system functions include ensuring its engine heats as quickly as possible and holding that temperature without letting it drop.Even though the function of a cooling system in automobiles sounds pretty simple, its task is not that simple. To give this statement some perspective, here's a fact that can help. So, a small car travelling at a speed of 80 km per hour generates the power of around 4000 explosions every minute.

In absence of an efficient system of vehicle cooling, the car’s engine will heat up and come to a halt due to friction happening in the moving parts. An effective cooling system will not only reduce excess heat but also work towards maintaining heat production during winter when temperature can drop drastically.

A cooling system comprises these few parts-

• Cooling fan
• Heater core 
• Radiator
• Thermostat
• Pressure cap and reserve tank
• Water pump
• Freeze plugs
• Intake manifold gaskets
• Bypass system
• Hoses
• Cylinder head gaskets

There exist two types of cooling systems in vehicles:

1. Air Cooling System

In this form of cooling, heated air is dispersed into the atmosphere. Any amount of heat reflected by the parts of the engine is dissipated in air. There are metallic ridges on the fins that direct air toward engine components. The amount of heat blown away by these fins depends on their size.

The cooling intensity completely relies upon air's velocity, the surface area of fins and temperature. This cooling system works well for scooters, small aircraft, motorcycles and tractors of minimum horsepower.

Advantages:

• Antifreeze not necessary
• Weighs less
• Has simple design
• Appropriate for places facing water scarcity
• No need to tap out the water
• Can fit in small spaces

Disadvantages:

• Efficiency is less as heat transfer does not take place properly
• Produces noises while operating

2. Water Cooling System

The most commonly used cooling system reduces heat using water circulation. Water travels through jackets around the cylinder and then flows through radiator, absorbing the heat. There are two types of water vehicle cooling systems- pump circulation system and thermosyphon.

Advantages:

• High heat transfer rate 
• Generally used in vehicles with larger engine sizes and power
• Greater thermal conductivity
• Water being the main component, it is easily accessible

Disadvantages:

• Radiator, pipe or storage might show signs of corrosion
• Without regular maintenance and cleaning, the heat transfer rate goes down

In the above sections, we have discussed the function and working of cooling systems in automobiles. This system is essential for maintaining your car engine’s temperature at levels necessary for its functioning. Therefore, if your car’s cooling system is not working properly, make sure to visit a garage to get it working as soon as possible.