Date:         Sat, 18 Dec 1999 18:19:57 -0500
Reply-To:     "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Air intake "scoops"
In-Reply-To:  <385988B7.32E660D8@online.no>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

According to thermodynamics, the greater the difference between your heat
source and your heat sink, the higher the efficiency of the engine.  That's why
watercooling the same engine will always produce more horsepower than an
aircooled equivalent.  Liquids have a much higher heat transfer coefficient
that gases, so your heads will always be cooler with liquid cooling.

Thus I don't doubt that cooling the aircooled heads with more airflow will
produce more horsepower.

If you want to read more about theoretical engine efficiency, pick up a basic
thermo text and look up the Rankine Cycle.  The 'net might have some background
on this as well.

-Karl
(MSChE [hopefully PhDChE by next year] with heat transfer specialty)

Karl and Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA
'87 Westfalia Weekender  "Beverley" - 191K miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/
PA/NJ Vanagon owner's mailing list: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon/