My DD has a hydraulic fan in it for engine cooling. It even has a reservoir to check and fill. What the purpose or advantage of this over other type fans?
Valeo says HDFS frees up vehicle designers because it allows the radiator and fan to be placed anywhere in the vehicle - behind the back seat or under the floor pan, because the system has an air-moving power that is 20 to 30 times that of an electric fan. With traditional cooling, the grille, radiator and fan are clustered in front to allow natural air flow to keep the radiator cool.
I like the concept of being able to relocate the radiator to wherever, but I'm still having a hard time grasping how this hydraulic method of powering the fan works, exactly. Are we talking hydraulic in the same sense as, say, Hydroboost brakes (whereby, in this case, it would utilize the very antifreeze for power that it's also responsible for cooling)? ... or more along the lines of the type of oil-filled hydraulics used in, like, floor jacks and forklifts and such? Neat-o, but confusing.
Anyone got a pic of the actual cooling assembly, itself? Pics of engine bays on modern cars just look like a featureless landscape of black ABS plastic with an automaker logo somewhere in the middle...
Anyone got a pic of the actual cooling assembly, itself? Pics of engine bays on modern cars just look like a featureless landscape of black ABS plastic with an automaker logo somewhere in the middle...