Cooling arrangement for system for generating electric power

Abstract

A cooling arrangement for a system for generating electric power may include at least one heat exchanger configured to cool air entering an engine operably associated with the system. The arrangement may further include a first fan configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger, and at least one radiator configured to cool engine coolant. The arrangement may also include a second fan configured to supply air to the at least one radiator. The arrangement may be configured such that air supplied to the at least one radiator is not supplied to the at least one heat exchanger prior to being supplied to the at least one radiator.

1 . A cooling arrangement for a system for generating electric power, the cooling arrangement comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger configured to cool air entering an engine operably associated with the system;   a first fan configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger;   at least one radiator configured to cool engine coolant; and   a second fan configured to supply air to the at least one radiator,   wherein the cooling arrangement is configured such that air supplied to the at least one radiator is not supplied to the at least one heat exchanger prior to being supplied to the at least one radiator.   
   
   
       2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the first fan supplies air to the at least one heat exchanger in a first direction, and the second fan supplies air to the radiator in a second direction that differs from the first direction. 
   
   
       3 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the first direction and the second direction oppose one another. 
   
   
       4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one radiator are spaced from one another, and the cooling arrangement further includes a partition between the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one radiator. 
   
   
       5 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the partition includes
 an interior sheet of material;   at least one exterior sheet of material; and   insulation material between the interior sheet of material and the exterior sheet of material.   
   
   
       6 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the exterior sheet of material includes a perforated sheet of material. 
   
   
       7 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the partition defines two sides, and wherein the first fan supplies air to the at least one heat exchanger in a first direction toward a first side of the partition, and the second fan supplies air to the radiator in a second direction toward a second side of the partition. 
   
   
       8 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the cooling arrangement is configured such that the at least one heat exchanger is located between an engine and the partition. 
   
   
       9 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the air supplied in the first direction and the air supplied in the second direction are diverted via the partition to flow in a third direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. 
   
   
       10 . A system for generating electric power, the system comprising:
 an engine configured to output mechanical power;   an electric machine configured to convert mechanical power into electric power, the electric machine being operably coupled to the engine;   at least one heat exchanger configured to cool air entering the engine; and   at least one radiator configured to cool engine coolant,   wherein the system is configured such that air flowing through the radiator is not passed through the heat exchanger prior to reaching the radiator.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , further including a housing at least partially containing the engine, the at least one heat exchanger, and the at least one radiator, wherein the at least one heat exchanger is located between the engine and the at least one radiator. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a partition located between the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one radiator. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a fan configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the housing defines a side wall and a roof, and wherein at least one of the side wall and the roof defines at least one air passage, and the fan is configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger via the at least one air passage. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further including a partition located between the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one radiator, wherein the housing defines an opening adjacent the partition, and the fan is configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger, such that air is expelled from the housing via the opening after being exposed to the at least one heat exchanger. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a fan configured to supply air to the at least one radiator. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , further including a fan configured to supply air to the at least one radiator. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 12 , further including:
 a first fan configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger; and   a second fan configured to supply air to the at least one radiator,   wherein the housing defines a side wall and a roof, and wherein at least one of the side wall and the roof defines at least one air passage, and the first fan is configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger via the at least one air passage,   wherein the housing defines an opening adjacent the partition, and the first fan is configured to supply air to the at least one heat exchanger, such that air is expelled from the housing via the opening after being exposed to the at least one heat exchanger, and   wherein the housing defines an open end, and the second fan is configured to supply air to the at least one radiator via the open end, such that air is expelled from the housing via the opening after being exposed to the at least one radiator.   
   
   
       19 . A method for improving cooling effectiveness of a radiator operably associated with a system for generating electric power, the method comprising:
 providing a first flow of air to at least one heat exchanger operably associated with an air intake of an engine; and   providing a second flow of air to the radiator,   wherein the second flow of air has not been heated by exposure to the at least one heat exchanger.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the system includes an engine and a housing containing the engine, the at least one heat exchanger, and the radiator, wherein the method further includes:
 pulling air into the housing and through the at least one heat exchanger such that the first flow of air flows in a first direction; and   pulling air into the housing and through the radiator such that the second flow of air flows in a second direction differing from the first direction.