<VV>Fanz, and how they work

[Bill & Chris Strickland]

Bill Hubbell wrote:
> 
> Previous estimates of why an electric fan cannot work have always
> been based on an assumption that it would have the same HP 
> requirements as the stock setup.  If this is not true, ...

... then perhaps the assumptions were wrong?   :)

Tom and Eddy have demonstrated that electric fans can and do work, so
what is the problem? The assumptions, or the math, or the estimates, or
the estimator ...

Saying it can't happen doesn't hold much water -- maybe the naysayers
need to spend more time on seeing how come it does work, ie, what is the
problem with the estimate? Is there something wrong with the Corvair
design? Does the Corvair really waste 25% of it's available horsepower
just driving the fan? Could an electric fan be the next trick way to win
the econo-run?

Old normal rule of thumb figures for an internal combustion engine are
that 50% of the fuel energy goes out the tailpipe, 25% goes to engine
heat, and the remainder goes to the drive train.


Electric fans have been around for years, doing various chores,
(including the wasting of energy as in the braking fans of a
diesel-electic locomotive), but just to push a bunch of air -- few
automotive cooling fans need a 10 Kw generator to run them. A roof mount
A/C on the motor home may need 5 Kw, but that is the compressor motor
causing the draw, not a couple punny little fans.

Bill Strickland