Altitude and cooling calculator
At altitude the air is thinner and carries away less heat. Estimate how much cooling capacity your radiator loses at your mine.
Site conditions
Cooling system
If you do not know it, leave 100 °C: it is a typical value for heavy diesel engines under load.
How it is calculated
- Air density comes from the standard atmosphere for your altitude and temperature. With the fan moving the same volume of air, less dense air carries away less heat.
- A hotter day also reduces the temperature difference between the coolant and the air, which lowers heat rejection.
- It is a first-order estimate for comparing conditions; it does not replace the manufacturer's rating for your machine.
What manufacturers publish about altitude
- Caterpillar AD45Arreglo opcional del motor para trabajar a 3,000 m o más
- Caterpillar D9D9TArreglo opcional para gran altitud
- Sandvik TH430Volvo TAD1342VECon el TAD1342VE sin reducción de potencia hasta 2,000 m a 25 °C
- Sandvik TH540Volvo TAD1640VECon el motor TAD1640VE trabaja sin reducción de potencia solo hasta 1,000 m de altitud a 25 °C
- Sandvik TH545iVolvo TAD1641VECon el TAD1641VE sin reducción de potencia hasta 1,000 m a 25 °C
What helps at altitude
- Keep the core clean outside and inside: dirt between the fins and scale in the tubes take away capacity that is already scarce.
- Check that the fan shroud, guard and seals are complete: without them, hot air recirculates.
- Replace the pressure cap if it does not hold its rated pressure.
- If the machine overheats under load even with a clean system, the radiator may be too small for the site.
Is your equipment overheating at altitude?
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