Air Conditioned Intercooler?

[Relentless Rob]

I've seen and members of the forum use water cooled intercoolers. Would it be possible to have a dual core intercooler or charge cooler with the secondary core filled with aircon' gas/fluid?

The pump can run off the same pulley as the supercharger or even off the back of it if needs be so the flow rate and therefore cooling effect would be in unison with the boost pressure.

Just an idea as it could possibly work better than the water cooled ones.

What do you think?

[owelly]

I think you'd need to be looking at the deminishing returns figures. It would probably take more energy then it would give back.

[Relentless Rob]

Hmmm.

How about something that already pumps fluid around? It would need to be a solvent to have the same temperature effect.

Petrol/Diesel pumping through the cores of a traditional front mounted intercooler or charge cooler would eliminate the need for a swirl pot as well I guess. As a bonus the fuel temperature would be reduced as well giving a kind of water injection effect.

But, the little difference it would make probably wouldn't justify the amount faffing about involved.

Still not my worst idea by far.

[Renrut]

It would warm your fuel up not cool it down.

A/C pumps can take 5+ hp when running.

I can see the idea of using something else in a charge cooler system but unless its going to be running cooler than the incoming compressed air you'll only be heating it up. That rules out engine coolant and oil. Fuel is ruled out because you'll likely lose more power from warm fuel and having to rein in the timing. I can't think of any other fluids you'd have on board a car.

One thought that would work is LPG - have the vaporiser coolant pumped separately from the engine, just round a charge cooler and vaporiser circuit. The vaporisation can make very low temps and have the added bonus of scaling with the power you're making. Downside is that you'd have to have some weird startup arrangement or only use the LPG on serious boost. First person to do this owes me a jaffa

[DaveRoverMan]

Your average intercooler will drop air temperature to around 30 degrees C, varying with speed and ambient temperature, but not getting that much warmer.

From what I remember of playing with LPG systems running at any less than around 40 degrees you're looking at the vapouriser freezing, and that's with a constant flow of heated water through it.
A separate water system running through a charge cooler and the vapouriser only would likely lead to things ending up frozen pretty quickly.
If you could run the liquid gas through the charge cooler on its way to the vapouriser it might work if you could get it made.

However, with the uncertainty of the results a bit of an unknown I reckon you'd be better off just running gas (with the associated benefits of being able to run a higher compression) or for even better charge cooling think about liquid gas injection, or if you're playing with diesels then LPG fumigation can give some pretty good results.

[Relentless Rob]

Could a mist of water on the intercooler or charge cooler increase the cooling ability?

A pair of headlight washer jets strategically placed would do it.

[DaveRoverMan]

The theory's good, although I believe running air/air is the most efficient way for an intercooler to work.

The intercooler won't get hot enough to make it worthwhile, you'd end up with a very wet or steamy engine bay.

[Renrut]

Toyota actually had that setup on the last of their WRC Celicas. It was a little spray bar that sprayed water onto the IC. When the water evaporates it takes heat with it, remember evaporation ain't the same as boiling off and happens at very low temperatures and still draws heat with it. Go stand outside soaking wet in the winter, you'll soon agree

Obviously the WRC cars run a bit more boost than the average and I believe it was to keep power consistent over the stages rather than boost power output.

Injected liquid LPG sounds like a real winner though.

[ACE]

Water sprayed inter coolers sound good, but if you are in a hard water area be aware that the lime scale will clog the fins.

[Relentless Rob]

How about a plumbed in CO2 fire extinguisher with a couple of jets in front of the intercooler so you can cool it to -30'C before a run?

[mjslonergan]

if you want Co2, a disposable MIG bottle would be easier to regulate...

[DaveRoverMan]

Dry ice and a fan easier still?

[Renrut]

Only using it on cold days? Saves carrying anything extra with you

Water sprayed inter coolers sound good, but if you are in a hard water area be aware that the lime scale will clog the fins.

Isn't that what calgon is for ?

[DaveRoverMan]

I've seen enough old sheds patched up with washing machines, maybe this is the next step?

[ACE]

I can hear it now...
"Intercoolers live longer with Calgon."