Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

intercooler operation

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 24, 2005 | 01:31 PM
  #1  
drdarkman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Default intercooler operation

i have a ? about how intercoolers work. is it the same basic theroy with how a radiator works, like if your moving air is flowing through and keeping engine cool. but if your not moving the engine gets hot. so if you have a supercharger and your sitting still is the compressed air flowing through the intercooler, is it still going to be hot when it leaves the intercooler? i'm not to sure on this.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2005 | 01:55 PM
  #2  
marco427's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Default

Assuming that the engine is idling when you say "sitting still", there will be some intake air flow through the 'cooler, and some cooling may still take place. This will depend on ambient air temperature and the temperature of the intake air after it passes through the blower. An intercooler is just a heat exchanger, and works most efficiently when both the intake/ambient air temperature differential and flow are high.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2005 | 03:10 PM
  #3  
drdarkman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Default

so pretty much standing idling in traffic at 200* isn't probably the best thing.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2005 | 11:51 PM
  #4  
markp03's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Default

correct
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 05:50 AM
  #5  
EPP's Avatar
EPP
FormerVendor
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 13,063
Likes: 2
Default

Heat is generated when air is compressed, so when you are sitting still your power adder isn't really compressing much air, so the intercooler isn't being needed anyway. Bob
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 03:31 PM
  #6  
JIMMYZZ28's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by marco427
Assuming that the engine is idling when you say "sitting still", there will be some intake air flow through the 'cooler, and some cooling may still take place. This will depend on ambient air temperature and the temperature of the intake air after it passes through the blower. An intercooler is just a heat exchanger, and works most efficiently when both the intake/ambient air temperature differential and flow are high.
Even though there isnt any air moving through the intercooler core it still has an efficiency rating of about 20%.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 03:35 PM
  #7  
drdarkman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Default

i'm just more concerned that if i put on an ati procharger with 8psi of boost. and i'm idling in traffic because of traffic jams and all, is that gonna cause any problems for me. And i'm idling at 200* or somewhere there about. Like detonation or anything like that.
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2005 | 02:05 PM
  #8  
TeeKay's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX (Dallas Area)
Default

i'm just more concerned that if i put on an ati procharger with 8psi of boost. and i'm idling in traffic because of traffic jams and all, is that gonna cause any problems for me. And i'm idling at 200* or somewhere there about. Like detonation or anything like that.
First, you won't have ANY boost at idle. From experience in Texas, when you are "sitting still" like in traffic, you engine isn't putting out anything like full power. So it won't be generating the heat like WOT will. It will stay as cool as if it had no power adder (whatever that is, 190°, 200°, etc.) because there is no boost heat at idle or just off idle. Where the IC comes into play is when you get into the throttle, the boost comes in and the boosted air temp starts to climb (and you are moving, not brake stalling). The IC will cool the intake charge just like the radiator does the engine coolant.

The short answer is: No, you won't have any problems. HTH
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 26, 2005 | 02:22 PM
  #9  
DeltaT's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 1
Default

At idle, depending on where your IC is, you may have more problems cooling if the IC blocks any part of the radiator that might normally get airflow. Other than that, what they said above.

Jim
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2005 | 09:11 PM
  #10  
TeeKay's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX (Dallas Area)
Default

Originally Posted by DeltaT
At idle, depending on where your IC is, you may have more problems cooling if the IC blocks any part of the radiator that might normally get airflow. Other than that, what they said above.

Jim
Ah, si, jes! Exactly so! My IC radiator was almost the size top-to-bottom and side-to-side as the engine radiator and didn't affect the idle temp enough to see. Not to worry. lol

Sorry, forgot to mention, at WOT for a significant time, the heat of the engine and the heat of the IC CAN affect your overall temp. But the airflow from the forward speed should more than overcome the problem if your radiators are properly sized. This is the only place where you might find a HD radiator for the engine useful. But only if it shows excessive temp climbs under those conditions. Usually it won't.

Last edited by TeeKay; Oct 26, 2005 at 09:20 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2005 | 03:04 AM
  #11  
DeltaT's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 1
Default

I mention that because it caused me issues before I modified the bumper with an air duct:



More because I chose the up n' down channel design where the tanks are top and bottom, and the top one blocks a decent chunk of radiator.

Very stable temps now, with 2 e-fans.

Jim
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2005 | 06:21 AM
  #12  
JIMMYZZ28's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by DeltaT
I mention that because it caused me issues before I modified the bumper with an air duct:



More because I chose the up n' down channel design where the tanks are top and bottom, and the top one blocks a decent chunk of radiator.

Very stable temps now, with 2 e-fans.

Jim
Just curios on the size SC you have because the intercooler core looks extreamly small and I would assume the Delta P is really high.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2005 | 04:20 PM
  #13  
DeltaT's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 1
Default

SC is Vortech V-2 SQ S-trim. That pic only shows less than 1/2 of the IC - core is 23"Wx6"Tx4.5"deep, with 34 downchannels. It has a very low pressure drop.

Internal flow area is: 34Channels X 4.5"depth X 3/8" channel width= 57.38 square inches.

IC is rated at 1089cfm with 1.5psi drop.

I am measuring IC efficiencies of around 84% since I put good ducting to the IC.

Jim
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2005 | 07:14 AM
  #14  
JIMMYZZ28's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Default

The intercooler sounds good with the 1.5lbs. The area you listed does not include the amount for turbulator fins. Does it have internal fin? Just curios I am working on an upgrade for PSJ and i have came up with two seperate designs utilizing our new tube. This tube does not have any inner fin. I set the first one up like our CS-000AE-01. The next one was stood up like what Delta T has shown. The two units are getting the newer tube we have. The two units are both 14.00"x30.00" the one with the vertical core has 44 tubes and has an area of about 30.00" (no fin). The two units will be thermal modeled early next week. I just wish there was a little more room in the T/A's to broaden the core and make it a little thinner. The core on the one we stood up is 7.75"x26.00"x4.055". BTW what car is that setup in?
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2005 | 04:23 PM
  #15  
DeltaT's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 1
Default

Yes, I have inner turbulator fins. They are not the densest I've seen but are pretty dense. I have not found a good way to model the impact of the turbulators on the internal area... maybe just take my 75-85% of my number? This setup is in my sleeper 4DR 81 Malibu Sedan...

Jim
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:34 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE