Annular Radiators

[gjs238]

The Germans seemed rather fond of annular radiators.
What US or British aircraft may have benefitted from use of annular radiators?

 

[Colin1]

Hawkers gave one a crack in a Typhoon R8694, then again in a Tempest V.

Results with the Typhoon were not spectacular, with aerodynamic drag being not much reduced over that of a standard Typhoon, though Hawkers persisted with their experimentation for over three years.

They tried again with a Tempest V EJ518 which suffered a forced landing following engine failure. Can't find a great deal on the success or otherwise of the Tempest foray but they did move on to try a ducted spinner arrangement; this turned out to be so heavy that any gains were lost in the added weight.

 

[Glider]

Its an interesting question as the British first used these with a lot of success on the SE5a.

 

[Milosh]

Its an interesting question as the British first used these with a lot of success on the SE5a.

And a few other WW1 a/c.

 

[davebender]

I suspect that resistance to battle damage was a more important factor. You don't have vulnerable radiators in the wings or fuselage connected by vulnerable coolant lines.

If an annular radiator gets hit then the engine and/or prop was probably hit also. Hence the annular radiator hit doesn't make much difference.

 

[VG-33]

The Germans seemed rather fond of annular radiators.
What US or British aircraft may have benefitted from use of annular radiators?

From the radiator itself, difficult to say... They have benefitted from reduced pressure losses in the ducts. The friction aera is reduced for the same section if it's circular (geometry), also for intake LE loss coefs, and less losses (turbulencies) at angles, so better fo internal speed profiles.

Half circular radiator could also be better adapted to rounded fuselage shape.

Regards