ApplicationNotes

Information from the Application Engineers at Waukesha Engine/Waukesha Power Systems

No. WPS1/91

COOLING SYSTEM HEAT BALANCE

A cooling system heat balance is simply determining the required
temperature differentials across the various heat transfer devices
in the cooling system loop. Determining these temperatures will
enable proper sizing of the heat exchange components to effectively cool the engine.

JACKET
WATER PUMP
F

Before beginning the system heat balance certain criteria on the

engine must either be given or be determined. They are the heat
transferred to the various engine system coolant circuits, the coolant system flow rates for the engine and the maximum allowable
inlet temperatures to the engine.

ENGINE

LUBE
OIL
COOLER

Q = m x Cp x dT
where:
Q = heat transferred (Btu/min),
m = mass flow rate (lb/min),
Cp = specific heat at a constant pressure (Btu/lb - F),
dT = temperature difference across component (F)

The value for the specific heat at a constant pressure (Cp) can
be obtained from Table A for a 100% water solution. For an ethylene-glycol/water solution the same applies as for the density
in using Tables A and B.
The following engine information is given to be used in the system
heat balance for Figure 1.
Heat rejected
(Btu/min)

Flow rate
(GPM)

Inlet Temp
(F)

Jacket Water

38,880

635

180 nom.

Auxiliary Water

6,048

100

180 max.

A1
180F
635 GPM

The cooling system diagram in Figure 1 will be used to illustrate

a simple cooling system heat balance. The heat balance is performed with one basic formula which is utilized at each system
component. This formula is:

The mass flow rate is a function of the coolant system flow rate
and the density of the liquid cooling medium at its temperature in
that portion of the circuit being analyzed. The flow rate in gallons
per minute (GPM) multiplied by the density of the cooling medium
at its temperature in pounds per cubic feet (lb/ft3) multiplied by
the constant of 0.1337 in cubic feet per gallon (ft3/gal) will give
the mass flow rate in pounds per minute (lb/min). The density of
cooling medium for the following example will be a 100% water
solution. The density of the water can be obtained from Table A.
If an ethylene-glycol/water solution is to be used then the density
must be determined by using both Table A and Table B in proportions to the percentage of glycol and water being mixed.

A2

180F
100 GPM
C

AUXILIARY
WATER PUMP

Figure 1. Cooling System Diagram

The starting point for the heat balance must be at A1 as the
inlet water temperature to the engine oil cooler has to be maintained at a temperature not to exceed the maximum (180F)
listed above at the designated water pump flow rate. Using the
maximum inlet temperature of 180F for the oil cooler, where the
temperature of A1 will be the same as B, look up the corresponding density of water at 180F in Table A which is 60.57 lb/ft3.
Also from Table A the specific heat (Cp) for water at 180F is
1.002 Btu/lb-F. With these values we can calculate the temperature differential across the oil cooler circuit as follows:
6,048
Btu
min

100

gal
min

60.57

x 0.1336 x 1.002 x

lb
ft3

Solving for dT (F):

dT

100

dT

7.5F

ft
gal
3

Btu
lb-F

dT
F

6048
60.57 x 0.1337 x 1.002

Therefore the temperature out of the oil cooler at C is 180F plus

the temperature differential (dT) across the oil cooler or 187.5F
at 100 GPM flow rate.
The next portion of the cooling circuit to be analyzed is the juncture at which the converged flows and temperatures of the oil
cooler and the water supply to the engine combine resulting in the
temperature at E. Here there is 100 GPM of 187.5F water being

ApplicationNotes
combined with 535 GPM of 180F water resulting in a 635 GPM
flow rate at 181.25F. This is obtained by combining 100 GPM of
water at 187.5F with 535 GPM water at 180F as follows:
(100 x 187.5) + (535 x 180)
635

181.2F

Table A*
Properties of Water (Saturated Liquid)
Temperature
F

Specific Heat
Cp, BTU
LB-F

Density

Weight

LB
FT3

LB
GAL

32

1.0090

62.42

8.34

35

1.0075

62.42

8.34

40

1.0050

62.42

8.34

45

1.0035

62.40

8.34

50

1.0020

62.38

8.34

60

1.0000

62.34

8.33

70

0.9980

62.27

80

0.9980

90

0.9970

The inlet water temperature to the engine jacket water pump is

therefore 181.2F. Using this inlet water temperature look up the
corresponding density of water and the specific heat at 181.2F.
For purposes of this example we will use 60.57 lb/ft3 and 1.002
Btu/lb-F in place of interpolation. Using the 635 GPM water
pump flow rate we can calculate the temperature differential
across the engine as follows:
38,880 = 635 x 60.57 x 0.1337 x 1.002 x dT
dT = 7.5F
The engine water outlet temperature at F is therefore the
temperature at E plus the temperature differential of 7.5F or
188.7F.
Table B*
Properties of ethylene glycol (Saturated Liquid)
Temperature
F

Specific Heat
Cp, BTU
LB-F

Density

Weight

LB
FT3

LB
GAL

8.32

32

0.5480

70.59

9.44

62.17

8.31

35

0.5498

70.52

9.43

62.11

8.30

40

0.5527

70.39

9.41

0.5557

70.27

9.39

100

0.9970

61.99

8.29

45

110

0.9970

61.84

8.27

50

0.5587

70.14

9.38

120

0.9970

61.73

8.25

60

0.5646

69.89

9.34

0.5705

69.64

9.31

130

0.9980

61.54

8.23

70

140

0.9980

61.39

8.21

80

0.5764

69.39

9.28

150

0.9990

61.20

8.18

90

0.5824

69.15

9.24

100

0.5883

68.90

9.21

160

1.0000

61.01

8.16

170

1.0010

60.79

8.13

110

0.5924

68.65

9.18

0.6001

68.40

9.14

180

1.0020

60.57

8.10

120

190

1.0030

60.35

8.07

130

0.6061

68.15

9.11

200

1.0040

60.13

8.04

140

0.6120

67.90

9.08

0.6180

67.65

9.04

210

1.0055

59.88

8.00

150

212

1.0058

59.83

8.00

160

0.6239

67.39

9.01

220

1.0070

59.63

7.97

170

0.6299

67.14

8.98

0.6359

66.89

8.94

230

1.0085

59.37

7.94

180

240

1.0100

59.10

7.90

190

0.6419

66.64

8.91

250

1.0125

58.81

7.86

200

0.6478

66.38

8.87

210

0.6538

66.13

8.84

212

0.6550

66.08

8.83

260

1.0150

58.51

7.82

270

1.0175

58.23

7.78

280

1.0200

57.94

7.75

290

1.0230

57.63

7.70

300

1.0260

57.31

7.66

*Values in tables have been rounded off. For accurate data consult appropriate standards for
properties of water and ethylene glycol.

*Values in tables have been rounded off. For accurate data consult appropriate standards for
properties of water and ethylene glycol.
Consult your local Waukesha Distributor for system application assistance. The manufacturer reserves the right to change or modify without notice, the design or equipment specifications as herein
set forth without incurring any obligation either with respect to equipment previously sold or in the
process of construction except where otherwise specifically guaranteed by the manufacturer.

Waukesha engine dresser, inc. 1101 West St. Paul Ave. Waukesha, WI 53188 262.547.3311
www.waukeshaengine.dresser.com