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air conditioned intercooler

 an intercooler with an air conditioning condenserfor a core
 
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i know ford has used this ide on their new 04 lightning prototype, but in their method, they use an auxilary air conditioning compressor to cool a heat excanger, which, in turn is used to cool a tank of glycol down to 30 degrees. This glycol is then pumped directly into the intercooler water core. In my idea, i would like to substitute an air conditioning condenser directly for the water to air intercooler core. It seems to me that putting the condenser right in the intercooler would be much colder and much more efficient at cooling the intake charge. It would also be lighter, and less complicated. Also, they system coud run all the time so the engine was always sucking in air that was the same temperature as the condenser, somwhere around a steady 0- 30 degrees F, whether on boost or not,so the entire system would be extremely reliable, and unaffected by outside ambient temperature changes.
—Josh19wrc, Aug 26 2003

Supercooler http://www.supercooler.us
The cheap version.. [remzy, Feb 10 2011]


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       If I'm not mistaken you would actually want to use the evaporator, not the condenser. especially if you expected to cool the intake charge. most AC condensers will over presure and malfunction unless inlet temp is at ambient or 80*f. discharge temp's from both turbos(impeller) and superchargers is way above that. usually around 450*f, you mentioned a boost condition.
—nacho's, Aug 26 2003
   

       This has been tried in the past. The power used to drive the AC compressor out weighs the power gained by dropping the intake air temp. What makes the ford version work is that the power robbed by the AC compressor is during cruising not wide open throttle.
—SublimeGTP, Sep 08 2003
   

       depends on how much boost you're running.
—K2e2vin, Oct 13 2003
   

       I think this would work but im not willing to chop up my car to try it out...   

       I had this idea before, but I am thinking of running the AC before a race to supercool a solution with a low freezing point and high heat capacity (any suggestions?) Then I could turn the AC off during a race and run with the pre-cooled solution.   

       It would also be a good idea to have some kind of stirring device inside the intercooler immersion tank to keep fresh coolant flowing through the intercooler.
—KLRico, Jan 27 2004
   

       // a solution with a low freezing point and high heat capacity (any suggestions?)// Brine or Glycol. I think brine is used to make ice in som eindustries. Glycol is used in antifreeze, I think.
Water sprays are normally used on intercoolers, to reduce the temperature. Especially on my Subaru, which has the intercooler positioned on the top of the engine (interwarmer). So, combine the two, and have a brine spray (if you are not worried about corrosion). One other idea: use a compressed gas (like carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen), and evaporate it on or in your intercooler. The trouble then might be the charge is too cold!
—Ling, Feb 27 2004
   

       nitrous express has this system called the n-ter cooler,it mounts on the front of the intercooler and sprays n02 on the intercooler.
—deaner2696, Apr 30 2004
   

       Use both a normal Air-Air Intercooler and afterwards a small compact water-air intercooler. But instead of water the aircons has totake the heat.   

       The normal intercooler is quiet effectiv as long as the temperature differnce between ambient and boost temperature is high enough. The already pre-cooled air will the cooled down by the aircon which can deliver temperaturs below ambient making the cooling process again efficient due to the temperature differnce.
—WhiteSand, Jun 17 2004
   

       The advantage in using an intermediate tank of glycol is twofold:   

       one: a liquid-filled exchanger can absorb heat faster than gas-filled exchanger.   

       two: A reservoir of cold liquid allows the use of a lower-BTU cooling unit while still providing short-term high-BTU cooling capability. The reduced weight of the cooling unit combined with the added weight of the glycol tank may provide an overall weight reduction. Also, by using a smaller cooling unit, you're drawing less power from the engine when you need it most.   

       By going with the glycol intermediary, you get less power drain and more cooling capacity right when you need it.   

       The method you describe has been used in non-boosted engines for years, I believe it's termed an "active intercooler". Because of this, I have to call BAKED.
—Freefall, Jun 17 2004
   

       seconded. Also this is not the first time it has been posted as novel. You get the most punch from a system that cools the very hot return fluid with air, then further cools the fluid by a second mechanism.
—WcW, Feb 10 2011
   


 

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