What is an Intercooler?
Intercooler is an intake air cooling device commonly used in turbocharged and supercharged engines.
What is the Purpose?
The intercooler cools the air compressed by the turbo / supercharger. Thus, lowering the temperature and increasing the density of the air supplied to the engine.
How does it work?
When air is compressed by a turbo / supercharger, it gets very hot, very fast. Hence, its temperature rises and its oxygen content (density) falls. When the air is cold, the intercooler delivers denser, oxygen-rich air to the engine. Thus increasing combustion by allowing more fuel to be burned.
It also improves reliability as it provides a more consistent intake air temperature to the engine. This allows the engine's air-fuel ratio to remain at a safe level.
There are two types of Intercooler
1. Air-to-Air Intercooler
Air-to-Air Intercooler extract heat from compressed air by passing it through a network of tubes with cooling fins. As compressed air is pushed through the intercooler, heat is transferred through the tube and, to the cooling fins. Traveling at the speed of cold air absorbs heat from the cooling fins. So, this reduces the temperature of compressed air.
Advantages:
- Simplicity
- Low cost
- Less weight
This also makes it the most common form of intercooling.
Deficiency:
- The intake length is longer because you have to install the intercooler to the front of the car
- More temperature variation than air to water.
Placement
The best air-to-air placement is at the front of the vehicle. "Front fitting" is considered the most effective placement. If the engine layout or vehicle type does not permit "front mount" placement. The intercooler can be installed on top of the machine, or even next to it. However, it is not considered effective. This is because the air flow is ineffective. Thus, the intercooler can experience heat immersion from the engine when the external airflow drops. This placement will often require additional air ducts or a scoop to direct air directly into the intercooler.
2. Air-to-Water Intercooler
Air-to-Water Intercoolers use water as a heat transfer agent. In this arrangement, cold water is pumped through the air / water intercooler, removing heat from the compressed air as it passes. The heated water is then pumped through another cooling circuit (usually a special radiator). Meanwhile, the cooled compressed air is pushed into the engine.
These intercoolers (also known as heat exchangers) tend to be smaller than their Air-to-Air counterparts.
Advantages:
- This makes them particularly suitable for demanding installations where space, airflow and intake length are an issue. Water is more efficient at transferring heat than air. Thus, it has more stability to be able to handle a wider range of temperatures.
Deficiency:
- However, this system requires additional complexity, weight and cost of radiators, pumps, water and transfer lines. Typical applications for this are industrial, marine and specialty mounts that do not allow easy air-to-air adjustment, such as rear engines
- Vehicle.
Placement
Air to water can be installed anywhere in the engine room. As long as the radiator is installed in a position with good airflow, and / or with Thermo, a fan is attached to it.
How PT. Air Surya Radiator can help?
At PT. Air Surya Radiator, our friendly team are experts in all things related to turbo intercoolers, and if you have any questions, please contact us immediately, we will always be happy to help.