Charge — Air Cooler

Introduction

The idea to use a charge air cooler is to induce a fresh air of a lower temperature which is otherwise at a higher temperature due to an increase pressure in turbocharged engines.

The charge air coolers more specifically if observed, serves as a heat exchanger for any turbocharged or supercharged engines (Internal Combustion Engines) by appreciating their Volumetric Efficiency under the thermodynamic process called Isochoric cooling as the intake air-density is increased.

This helps the engine to burn more amount of air and the fuel per engine cycle that adds up the power output for the engine.

Function

The turbocharger is employed to take in more air and deliver more for the combustion process.

Within the process, the charge-air cooler significantly reduces the temperature of the air which has heated thanks to the compression process.

Greater density means a better quantity of oxygen is present within the combustion chamber (because cold air contains more oxygen than warm air at an equivalent volume). The performance of the engine noticeably increased.

Charge-air coolers are heat exchanges which are installed within the intake tract between the compressor and therefore the engine’s inlet valve.

They’re either air- or water-cooled. In water-cooled charge-air coolers, the warmth is discharged to a fanatical cooling circuit. additionally , variants exist that the cooling effect of an air-cooled charge-air cooler is further increased by being sprayed with water.

The working range of the charge air cooler ranges somewhere between 170°C to 230°C, down to around 40°C (approx.). This is achieved by using cooling water.

Charge air coolers range in size depending on the engine size and capacity. The smallest charge air coolers are often referred to as intercoolers and are mounted directly to automobile or truck engines.

The charge air coolers of large sizes are often used on huge marine diesel engines or in power plants, weighing nothing less than in tones.

Originally published at https://www.carengineered.com on December 7, 2020.