How does intercooling work?
 

So I was just checking out Bat Lord's project and reading about the intercooler he's having installed.
I know what intercooling does and why it's done. But HOW does it work? I know there are air-to-air intercoolers, and water-to-air intercoolers, but how does each kind actually cool the air? Where does the air or water used to cool the intake air come from?
Could someone explain that for me? I'd appreciate it. :D
Thanks.

Here are the basics from www.howstuffworks.com

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Intercoolers
When air is compressed, it heats up; and when air heats up, it expands. So some of the pressure increase from a turbocharger is the result of heating the air before it goes into the engine. In order to increase the power of the engine, the goal is to get more air molecules into the cylinder, not necessarily more air pressure.</div>http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/turbo-plumbing.gif
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>How a turbocharger is plumbed (including the charge air cooler)

An intercooler or charge air cooler is an additional component that looks something like a radiator, except air passes through the inside as well as the outside of the intercooler. The intake air passes through sealed passageways inside the cooler, while cooler air from outside is blown across fins by the engine cooling fan.

The intercooler further increases the power of the engine by cooling the pressurized air coming out of the compressor before it goes into the engine. This means that if the turbocharger is operating at a boost of 7 psi, the intercooled system will put in 7 psi of cooler air, which is denser and contains more air molecules than warmer air.</div>

Ahhhh... it's all very clear to me now :D .
Thanks Bat Lord, appreciate it! :cool:

smile.gif Very informative! Thanks!!!

very informative. It cleared somethings up I never thought to ask.
What about a n/a car with out a turbo with an intercooler. Is it possible and what gains can one expect?

you can expect to lose about 20-30 hp by having an intercooler without a turbo

you need "the force" young skywalker to ram the air through all that piping