
COOLING SYSTEM
Description
Westerbeke marine diesel generators are designed and equipped
for
fresh water cooling. Heat produced
in
the engine
by
combustion and friction is transferred
to
fresh water which circulates throughout the engine.
This circulating fresh water cools the engine block and its internal moving parts. The heat is transferred ex-
ternally from the fresh water
to
sea water
by
means of a heat exchanger, similar
in
function
to
an automo-
tive radiator.
Sea water flows through the tubes
of
the heat exchanger while fresh water flows around the
tubes; engine heat transferred
to
the fresh water is conducted through the tube walls
to
the sea water which
is then pumped into the exhaust system where finally it is discharged overboard. In other words, the engine
is cooled
by
fresh water, the fresh water is cooled
by
sea water, and the sea water carries the transferred
heat over the side through the exhaust system. The fresh water and sea water circuits are independent
of
each other. Using only fresh water within the engine allows the cooling water passages
to
stay clean and
free from
harmful deposits. The
two
independent circuits and their components are discussed in the follow-
ing paragraphs.
Fresh Water
Circuit
NOTE: Refer
to
paragraphs A and B in this section
for
the recommended antifreeze and water
mixture
to
be used as the fresh water coolant, and for information on filling the fresh water
system.
Fresh water is pumped through the engine
by
a belt-driven circulating pump, absorbing heat from the en-
gine. The fresh water coolant circulates through the engine's block absorbing heat, then passes through
the thermostat into the exhaust manifold,
to
the heat exchanger
wher.e
it is cooled, and then is returned
to
the engine block through the suction side of the fresh water circulating pump. When the engine is started
cold, external fresh water flow is prevented
by
the closed thermostat (although some fresh water flow is
bypassed around the thermostat
to
prevent exhaust manifold from overheating). As the engine warms up,
the thermostat gradually opens, allowing full flow
of
the engine's fresh water coolant
to
flow unrestricted
to
the external portion of the cooling system.
A.
Fresh Water Coolant (Antifreeze) Mixture.
A freshwater and antifreeze mixture should be used year-round
in
the cooling system. Water, when it freezes,
expands sufficiently
to
split the heat exchanger and crack the engine block. A water/antifreeze mixture
of
proper concentration will prevent freezing (see page 47
for
an antifreeze/water mixture chart).
Use soft water with few impurities, such as tap water (potable water)
or
rainwater. Never use hard
or
foul
water. Use of hard water
or
water containing impurities will lead
to
the collection
of
scale in the engine and
heat exchanger which will reduce the cooling system's efficiency.
Antifreeze of
poor
quality
or
without rust inhibitors will cause corrosion within the cooling system. Always
use antifreeze which is compatible with aluminum cooling system components and is made
by
a reliable
manufacturer. Never mix different brands of antifreeze.
Make sure that the cooling system of the engine is well cleaned before adding antifreeze. Recommended
antifreeze
for
year round use is ZEREX
or
PRESTONE with rust inhibitors.
In order
to
control the concentration
of
the mixture, mix the antifreeze and freshwater thoroughly before ad-
ding it
to
the cooling system.
Westerbeke Generators
46
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