<VV> Corvair Fan

Sun Jul 10 14:08:36 EDT 2005

Kent, the weight of the fan does not affect the power absorbed to drive it. 
The power is used to compress the air and that required to spin the rotor is 
nil.
RonH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kent Sullivan" <kentsu at corvairkid.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 10:53 PM
Subject: RE: <VV> Corvair Fan

> Hi,
>
> Street use but likely for performance-oriented cars mainly. Two main
> benefits I see:
>
> 1) Uses substantially less HP to drive due to no 90 degree bends and
> super-light fan weight.
>
> 2) Fan belt pretty much will never come off, even in "spirited" driving, 
> due
> to no 90 degree bends.
>
> We've worked out an alternator to use, by the way. It's a nice light unit.
>
> --Kent
> -----Original Message-----
> From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
> [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Ron
> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 10:46 PM
> To: Kent Sullivan; virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair Fan
>
> Is this for racing, or what?  What would be the motivation to use it?
> RonH
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kent Sullivan" <kentsu at corvairkid.com>
> To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 7:59 PM
> Subject: RE: <VV> Corvair Fan
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> The axial vertical fan project that Bob Coffin and I have been inching
>> along
>> for several years took an important step today. This morning I dropped 
>> off
>> the prototype (aluminum) hub, fan blades, and an alignment jig to my
>> favorite welder.
>>
>> I should have it back in a week or so then I will post a picture on my 
>> web
>> site. The plan is for Bob to test the fan on one of his cars and do some
>> airflow measurements. This fan uses the fiberglass housing he made 
>> several
>> years ago that several racers are using with the Austin fan.
>>
>> The new fan was designed (using the formulas from the "Fan Handbook:
>> Selection, Application, and Design", available on Amazon.com and other
>> places) to provide adequate cooling for street use. If it operates as
>> expected, hopefully all that might be required is adding some ducting
>> vanes
>> to the underside of the fiberglass housing.
>>
>> If all goes well, we would like to make the production fans out of
>> something
>> much lighter than aluminum; perhaps a modern plastic. (But it needs to be
>> one that doesn't react with battery acid fumes. We all know the story of
>> the
>> prototype Delrin fan creating formaldehyde gas!) There will be a
>> price/performance decision to make.
>>
>> By the way, most of the delay was waiting for a friend to install and
>> provide power to the four-axis CNC mill that he purchased for his home
>> shop.
>> That took longer than expected but it was worth the wait because he does
>> great work. :-)
>>
>> Stay tuned...
>>
>> --Kent
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
>> [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of JVHRoberts at aol.com
>> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 11:14 AM
>> To: dkdewald at pasty.net; virtualvairs at corvair.org
>> Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair Fan
>>
>>
>> I think one needs to look beyond Corvair cooling blowers, and look to
>> other
>> air cooled engines that make more power, etc., and have fewer cooling
>> problems.
>> Corvair fans are centrifugal blowers, as you point out. Nothing wrong 
>> with
>> that, but the Corvair blowers, ANY of them, don't represent the best of
>> what
>> there is, not by a LONG shot.
>> Nor are centrifugal blowers the best for this application. Deutz air
>> cooled
>> diesels, Porsche 911s, etc., typically use axial blowers. These tend to 
>> to
>> be more efficient, and can operate more linearly over a wider range of
>> speeds.
>> Meaning, they don't go ballistic on HP when driven to redline speeds.
>> Hydraulic drives, etc., are interesting, but KISS is always better.  <G>
>>
>> In a message dated 7/9/2005 1:41:06 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>> dkdewald at pasty.net writes:
>>
>> Hello  folks,
>>
>> Based on my limited understanding of fluid flow, it is clear to  me that 
>> a
>> standard automotive radiator fan operates somewhat differently  than the
>> Corvair "fan."  The Corvair unit is a centrifugal blower,  and has more 
>> in
>> common with the blower in, say, a forced warm air furnace  (which blows
>> through ductwork--like the Corvair engine).  It is no  surprise to me 
>> that
>> attempts to use electric radiator fans end in failure;  fans are not
>> blowers.
>>
>> I think that significant improvements could be  made in the efficiency of
>> the Corvair blower, particularly the late  magnesium style.  In my mind
>> the
>> ideal blower would be modeled after  the early steel curved fin impeller
>> but
>> molded from fiber reinforced  plastic.  This would be the minimum 
>> starting
>> point for making an  electric motor powered Corvair cooling system.
>>
>> Has anyone considered  using a hydraulic fan/blower drive as done on 
>> heavy
>> construction and  agricultural equipment?  Just a thought.
>>
>> Dale Dewald
>> Hancock,  MI
>>
>>
>>
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