Tracy Crook wrote:

Surprisingly according to Kuchemann & Weber's book "The Aerodynamics Of
Propulsion". This is not a real bad way to duct a radiator.
In other words curving the duct does not help much.
It does indeed work as an internal diffuser.

Paul Lamar

Thanks for clarifying this Paul.   The high angle at which the radiator is
placed to the inlet does not hurt, contrary to many stories about the
necessity of orienting the radiator fins in-line with the duct.  The reason
is that airflow through the radiator is 100% turbulent, and that is a GOOD
thing.  A laminar flow radiator (if such a thing were possible) would be
very inefficient.

Tracy Crook
  rws@altavista.net

Also, I might add, the pressure is up and the velocity is down as it
works as an internal diffuser. Which is the most important is
open to speculation. I suspect the fins are arranged in all rads
to promote turbulent flow as most all rads are and work perpendicular
to the airflow. 
 
Paul Lamar
 
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