View Full Version : can anyone tell me exactly how a charge cooler works?
purple pride
29-12-2006, 15:54
EXACTLY! i really have no knowledge of these! are they better than intercoolers? or are they a compromise? (i have the regal sidemount).
would i get a big improvement on running both? ie: power or reliability, smoothness.
p.s I have an astra coupe turbo.
thanks
charge cooling is more efficient (transfer of heat from air to water and back agian, meaning you can use a smaller core) uses a radiator to disperse the heat absorbed by the water.
intercoolers = simple to install, less parts to go wrong/service, generally sufficient on their own unless you go engine-tastic
use both = more pressure drop but may be the only option if you run out of space.
Scottyboy
29-12-2006, 16:25
Here's a pic of Thorney Motorsport's charge cooler for the vxr.
http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/content/site/images/vxrastra/vxrastrastage321.gif
I'd stick with an intercooler unless there was litterally no space, looks better behind a bumper too :twisted:
Scottyboy
29-12-2006, 16:49
I'd stick with an intercooler unless there was litterally no space, looks better behind a bumper too :twisted:
Totally agree mate - you would benefit more from a Co2 IC spray bar or WI, or just a bigger front mount intercooler.
Intercoolers work 'better' when they have a decent airflow over them, so front engined cars tend to work well as the IC can be placed in the airflow. For rear engined cars the lack of airflow always compromises cooling so charge coolers work 'better'. Ideal world is both, an IC for in airflow coupled with a CC to cool air whilst car is static to avoid heat soak and add extra cooling.
Agree that front mounts are the way to go, espacially for initial cooling, however I'm not a fan of WI due to the fact that its cooling air after its got hot (which is less efficient than cooling it before). It also relies on water so when that runs out so does your cooling.
We went for a CC and IC set up on the VXR because the front end is so aerodynamic (in comparison to its frontal area) and relatively little airflow runs through the engine compartment. The Astra G in comparison is much better in this regard so a decent FMIC is all you'd need.
Intercoolers work 'better' when they have a decent airflow over them, so front engined cars tend to work well as the IC can be placed in the airflow. For rear engined cars the lack of airflow always compromises cooling so charge coolers work 'better'. Ideal world is both, an IC for in airflow coupled with a CC to cool air whilst car is static to avoid heat soak and add extra cooling.
Also you can (using a rear engined car) run a cooling loop to a rad infront of the car, without having the massive air pressure drop you'd have if you took all your air the long way round (with an intercooler).
Yep, spot on.
On the VX's we run a small pre-rad in the front clam and feed the water back to the charge cooler in the back. Its a pita but works very well.
chuntnigton101
04-01-2007, 13:08
one idea that the US V8 turbo guys use a chargercooler and a BIG tank of ice water. this give them VERY low intake temps for the first part of the 1/4mile run but by the end the water temps can getquiet high! heard of one guy running a 650bhp engien that used a 1 gallon tank and the water was "bath water warm" by the end of the run. now that cant be doing the intake temps any good!
also you see guy running intercoolers and making well over 1000bhp, so if they are good enough for them... lol
another probelm with chargecoolers on road cars is you need a really BIG prerad (the rad the water from the chargecooler goes to to be cooled down before going back around) to stop heat soak (where the water just keeps getting hotter and hotter). there was a guy using a charger cooler for his EVO sprint car and the prerad was MASSIVE, bigger then the engine rad!!! but this gave him very low intake temps even in the slower corners and on the start line. also, thanks to the shorter intake run from the turbo to the inlet manifold, the throttle responce, lag and spool times where all reduced!
still i would also try and run a intercooler on a front engined car unless it was only being used or 1/4 or sprints (then id go for a intercooler & chargcooler set up).
try and fit the biggest intercooler you can in the space you have. also look at the design. alot of coolers tend to use only a small part of the cooling core! some custom units have the inlet side sectioned off so more of the core is used. another REALLY good point is that anything over 60mm thick doesn't really add much cooling effect! you are better with a bigger frontal area and a thiner coole rthan a really thick one. this is because as the core gets thicker the cores towards the back have hotter and hotte air comeing over them. thsi means you get less heat transfer and therefore less cooling.
hope this helps some.
thanks Chris.