What is the purpose of an intercooler?
1 Answers
The function of an intercooler is to reduce the intake air temperature of the engine. The intercooler system, short for central cooler, is also known as an Intercooler and is typically made of aluminum alloy material. Depending on the cooling medium, common intercoolers can be divided into two types: air-cooled and water-cooled. Here is a brief introduction to intercoolers: 1. Air-cooled: Utilizes external air to cool the air passing through the intercooler. The advantage is that the entire cooling system has fewer components and a relatively simpler structure compared to water-cooled intercoolers. The disadvantage is that the cooling efficiency is lower than that of water-cooled intercoolers, generally requiring longer connecting pipes and resulting in greater air resistance. Air-cooled intercoolers are widely used due to their simple structure and low manufacturing cost. Most turbocharged engines use air-cooled intercoolers, such as the engines in the Hawtai Terracan TCI off-road vehicle and the FAW-Volkswagen Bora 1.8T sedan. 2. Water-cooled: Uses circulating cooling water to cool the air passing through the intercooler. The advantage is higher cooling efficiency, and the installation position is more flexible, eliminating the need for long connecting pipes, making the entire intake pipe system smoother. The disadvantage is that it requires a relatively independent circulating water system to cooperate with the engine cooling system, resulting in more components in the entire system, higher manufacturing costs, and a more complex structure. Water-cooled intercoolers are less commonly used and are generally found in mid-engine or rear-engine vehicles, as well as large-displacement engines, such as the engines in the Mercedes-Benz S400-CDI sedan and the Audi A8-TDI sedan.
