View Full Version : intercooler and aftercooler
Mark01GT
07-26-2003, 02:23 PM
how are they different?
An Intercooler is a air to air heat exchanger, very similar to a radiator. The Intercooler is located on the output side of the compressor (supercharger or turbocharger) and the air is "pumped" through the heat exchanger in order to drop the air temp. The air is then passed along to the engine's intake system.
Like the intercooler, an Aftercooler is mounted on the output side of the compressor. It is a water to air heat exchanger that is usually smaller and under-hood mounted. There is a pump that pushes a cold, cooling liquid through a radiator like device mounted inside the aftercooler. The air is passed over the heat exchanger inside the aftercooler and cooled down. The air then enters the engine's intake system.
Ian
FearFactor
07-27-2003, 12:00 PM
Ian, don't forget an Intercooler can also be air-water.
Turbo
07-28-2003, 05:23 AM
and aftercoolers are usually used on superchargers while intercoolers are used on both yet more common on turbo applications
txgti
07-28-2003, 08:07 AM
By the strict definition of the terms...
Intercooler is between the air filter, and the power adder (be it turbo, or blower). Aftercooler is after the compression (i.e. between the intake manifold, and the compressor of choice).
In actual practice, the only company I've seen that calls their product an aftercooler is Vortech, and theirs is air-water. I think Ford / SVT might call theirs aftercoolers too, but don't quote me on that. THey use air-water as well.
I prefer air-air setups.
A general rule of thumb is...
for street driving, road racing, open tracking, and anything that is going to have the engine heat up, and stay warm.... you'll want an air-air. For dragstrip, and dragstrip only use.. air-water works best.
It has to do with anbient temperatures, as well as how the actual method of heat exchange takes place in each individual system.
It's a hotly debated topic, and you'll get 35 different answers if you ask 35 different experts.
aftercooler was just a marketing sceme by vortech for their air / water system.
all boost is cooled after the compressor, whats the point of cooling air only to be reheated again by the compressor?
lastly, water is a better cooling device then air, whether its turbo or s/c. ever see a race car with the plumbing that goes into the passenger compartment? there is a nice sized cooler in there full of ice water.
Hackker
08-28-2003, 10:21 PM
Intercooler is between the air filter, and the power adder (be it turbo, or blower). Aftercooler is after the compression (i.e. between the intake manifold, and the compressor of choice).
Isn't a intercooler after the compressor too? Basically you want to cool the air after its been boosted...
txgti
08-29-2003, 07:33 AM
Isn't a intercooler after the compressor too? Basically you want to cool the air after its been boosted...
Not always... thing is... you'll get a certain percentage cooling charge either way you slice it. Say your intercooler is cooling 40 degrees... it's either going into the compressor 40 degrees cooler, or it's going to cool it down 40 degrees after it's compressed. IT's kinda nominal. The right design in my mind is none the less AFTER the compressor.
txgti
08-29-2003, 07:35 AM
aftercooler was just a marketing sceme by vortech for their air / water system.
all boost is cooled after the compressor, whats the point of cooling air only to be reheated again by the compressor?
lastly, water is a better cooling device then air, whether its turbo or s/c. ever see a race car with the plumbing that goes into the passenger compartment? there is a nice sized cooler in there full of ice water.
For drag racing yes, but Air-Water is FAR more succeptible to heat soak. So in applications where you're going to be running the car under WOT for extended periods of time, air-air is superior.
There's not one magic best part for this, jsut like any other thing in modding cars. It ALWAYS depends on your situation... what you're using the car for, and what you've already got done.
Pull_T
08-29-2003, 09:52 AM
In common jargon, aftercooler is air/water and intercooler is air/air.
"Correct" usage would be to call ProCharger's and other air/air exchangers after the compressor aftercoolers. An intercooler is an exchanger before a compressor or between multiple compressors like on large industrial equipment with multistage turbochargers.
Hackker
08-29-2003, 10:34 AM
Not always... thing is... you'll get a certain percentage cooling charge either way you slice it. Say your intercooler is cooling 40 degrees... it's either going into the compressor 40 degrees cooler, or it's going to cool it down 40 degrees after it's compressed. IT's kinda nominal. The right design in my mind is none the less AFTER the compressor.
I've never seen one before the compressor. If its air to air, how could it cool anymore than the ambient temp of the air?
txgti
08-29-2003, 12:59 PM
I've never seen one before the compressor. If its air to air, how could it cool anymore than the ambient temp of the air?
It can't. Only air to water can operate before the compressor, and it's a rare thing, but it does exist.
I'm jsut going by the textbook definitions. Actual practice is FAR different from that. I am not arguing that point.
See Todd's reply. ;)
Pull_T
08-29-2003, 01:56 PM
It can't. Only air to water can operate before the compressor, and it's a rare thing, but it does exist.
I'm jsut going by the textbook definitions. Actual practice is FAR different from that. I am not arguing that point.
See Todd's reply. ;)
Yeah, popular jargon often morphs away from what was the original usage, and in many instances, the new usage becomes just as "correct" as the original by default.
Another example would be "SN-95"...techically the chassis for all 94+ Stangs, though the most common usage of the term is 94-98 Stangs.
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