based on some of my measurements, i have 3 options for the size of my Front Mount Intercooler.

I would like to hear your thoughts on which core would flow/cool the best. the size will be custom made bar / plate design. the material, fins/inch, etc.. will be the same between the cores. considering all other factors equal, which size would be best and why?

21x8x6

or

27x8x4

or

27x12x3

any help appreaciated.

thanks,

Mike

 

Increasing frontal surface area of an intercooler is more effective than increasing it's thickness. As the core gets thicker, the ambient air traveling through the core is heated by transfer and the farther through the core it travels, the hotter it gets. By the time the ambient air makes it throught hte core , it's lost a good percentage of it's cooling capacity. Also, as the core gets thicker, the ambient air pressure drops which means less air gets to the radiator if it is mounted behind the intecooler.

Increasing the height of the intercooler is also more effective than increasing it's width, the main reason for this is the pressure drop is greater when the charge air has to travel through a longer passage compared to a shorter passage. There are some new fin fin designs that can help compensate for the longer passage pressure drop, but it's still ideal to keep it as short as possible, while still being effective.

 

thanks. thats exactly the information i was looking for. makes sense. so probably the 27Lx12Hx3D is the best.

mike