I do not remember where I read this or how true but it seems to make
sense.
On a down flow the force of the water entering the top tank tends to
send the flow over to the far side while the suction tends to pull from
the near side resulting in most of the flow being across the top and
down the output side
x= main flow
inxxxxxxxxxx
|||||||||x
|||||||||x
|||||||||x
|||||||||x output
While on cross flow the water entering at the top causes a higher
pressure area at the top rows and the suction causes a lower pressure at
the bottom rows resulting in a more even flow through all the tubes.
Hi Pressure low suction
in -----------
-----------
-----------
-----------
----------- out
lo pressure Hi suction
On a left top entry right bottom exit radiator.
Downflow would have faster travel over the top and down the right side
while the left bottom would not see much flow. The hotter water would
flow faster through the downflow resulting in less cooling time.
Cross flow would be much more even with the water spending more time in
the radiator resulting in better cooling.
FWIW.
Peter S.
>Date: Tue, 08 Dec 1998 10:54:17 -0700
>From: Scott & Glenda Meyers <autox@earthlink.net>
>To: Frank Clarici <spritenut@Exit109.com>
>CC: spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
>Subject: Re: Radiator Stuff
>Reply-To: Scott & Glenda Meyers <autox@earthlink.net>
>
>Question - just what is it about the crossflow that supposedly
>makes it superior? I know that most American monsters that
>produce lots of heat do NOT use crossflow radiators. In fact
>radiators have gotten smaller in the past ten years (most now
>come with electric fans).
>
>I thought that having the inlet and outlet across diagonally from
>each other was very important, adequate fan(s), as well as area
>available to the wind flow.
>
>Is there anything that makes a cross flow superior technically
>(i.e., mechanically)?
>
>Scott Meyers
>1960 Bugeye 1275 w/crossflow & no problems
>Phoenix Arizona
>
>
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