Radiator Coolant Pump or Fan

[Listerational]

Greetings Fellow Lister Enthusiasts,

Would someone please advise me as to whether or not I should install a radiator coolant pump or fan on my Listeroid 10/1? The dimensions of the radiator are 21" x 41". It is installed above the generator. The temperature of the fluid exit port is about 240 - degrees F and the temperature of the fluid entrance port is about 215 - degrees F.

Thanks for the great help.

Listerational

[ajaffa1]

Hi Listerational, you definitely have a problem there, water boils at 212 fahrenheit at sea level, you are way above that. The only way to stop it boiling at that temperature is to use a pressurised cooling system. Lister/Listeroid cylinder head gaskets do not like pressurised cooling systems. A water pump probably won`t do anything as it is clearly thermosyphoning OK. Four choices: 1. a larger radiator, 2. swap the radiator for a vented hopper, 3. fit an electric fan to the radiator, 4. fit a pulley driven fan.
You should be able to find a suitable fan at a local scrapyard, if you are going for an electric fan try to find a pipe thermostat to turn it on and off, otherwise it will take a long time to warm up.

Bob

[Listerational]

Hey Bob,

Thanks for the great advice and the word of caution.

I think the electric fan plus a thermostat to cut the antifreeze  flow off until warm would be the simplest route for me to take. Do you think that it would be ok to put the fan on the radiator where it will pull air from the generator through the radiator to the outside or should I pull the air from the outside through the radiator towards the generator? I would prefer to pull the air from the generator to the outside in order to help get rid of the fumes in my garage which is attached to my house.

Thanks again....

Jim

[ajaffa1]

Hi Jim, I think it would work equally well either way provided you have a sufficient supply of fresh air, turning your shed into a kiln is not going to achieve anything.
Let us know how you get on.

Bob

[Listerational]

LOL   
Putting the generator inside the attached garage was probably not the best choice. One day I hope to run the generator on some sort of biofuel that smells good. I work at restaurants so I may be able to get their fried chicken oil. Yum Yum.
Thanks,

[cujet]

We've been using those relatively inexpensive "Grundfos" style hot water circulating pumps with good results. They run on 120v, take very little power and seem to be utterly reliable.

The Grundfos brand is prob top notch and will cost about $130 if you look carefully. The clones are about half that. I don't know how well the clones hold up.

[Listerational]

Thanks for the good info. I will look those up.

[Listerational]

We've been using those relatively inexpensive "Grundfos" style hot water circulating pumps with good results. They run on 120v, take very little power and seem to be utterly reliable.

The Grundfos brand is prob top notch and will cost about $130 if you look carefully. The clones are about half that. I don't know how well the clones hold up.

Hello cujet,

If I use a circulating pump does the system need to be under pressure?

Thanks..