I was jsut thinking. rather than an intercooler, waht if you ran the coolant lines from an A/C around your intake pipes. With the windows up, sunroof closed, and A/C on full blast you get goose bumps on a sunny day (no idea why anyone would ever drive that way). So you should be able to cool the intake charge well below ambient that way.

 

Nice thought, but the law of dimenishing returns applys. Where do you tink the power to cool the A/C comes from? Go pick up a basic heat transfer textbook and you will soon understand why this will not work.

 

What about a high pressure electric pump on its own battery (switched, of course) running a CO2 coolant system?

 

C02 burns real well

 

CO2 isn't going into the intake, only around it. As it decompresses into the coolant tubes that wrap around the intake pipes, it should result in lower intake temps. Charge the battery when you don't need the engine power, flip the switch when you do, and independent power source drives pump, cooling intake, and creating better power.

 

For the results, it would be expensive and complicated. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.

 

The weight Vs the net HP gains would not justify this method, unless A) you had an extremely light set up or B) you made a very efficient system in which the ambient air temp was displaced about 50*. or so. So good luck.....I've thought about this myself and then my head hurt.

 

Actually, I was just thinking, one might even run the pump to pressurize the CO2 in advance (in a holding tank), then a seperat power source wouldn't be required. Yes it is complicated, and probably wouldn't yeild much (unless commercial grade ammonia were used, boiling point well bellow -50C). However, as long as the gains outweight the losses, it is probably worth it, if you want every possible ounce of power.

 

Whenever the gains out weigh the losses, it becomes a worthwhile endeveor(sp)

 

I think a commercail refridgerant may work, its going to take several months of R & D before I even put a prototype together. Then I'll likely still have a long way to go. Oh well, another project for the list.

 

there is a 1000hp twin turbo 355 that uses the A/C as an IC cause there is no room for an IC

 

dont people do this with the gas lines??? make a coil and run it thru some ice pack or something ??? making the gas burn a bit quiker???

 

any updates kristopher d?

 

03 SVT Cobra and SVT Lightning both use this method. It does work if you set it up correctly. It attempts to chill the intake to 30F.

 

I can't remember if it's on the Big List or the 3rd Gen forum, but there's a fellow going for a Bonneville speed record in a 3rd gen who has just recently done this. He got his temps below 6 degrees - I think he actually froze condensation on his IC. He's replumbed his AC to do it.

Beast

 

man thats great....i can see it now, "my A/C went out and i lost 30hp"


on another note...what about that propane injection that popped up in here so long ago? that lowers intake temps by alot since the stuff is nice and cold, and it aids in combustion, raising power and mileage slightly, while lowering emissions. i'm surprised no one has tried that yet on their 7.

 

well kinda the 03 Cobra uses an air to water intercooler, and uses regular coolent to cool it!...........not the same as what he is talking about!

 

The Cobra uses a standard air to water intercooler. The A/C system is not involved.

 

I was gonna say wtf????!!

 

The bonneville speed record car could probably benifit from this, since it's probably putting out ridiculous HP, where cooling might make 50 hp, by way of increasing timing and boost (lower detonation prone too) and the AC only takes 10.
But on a street car, not only does the AC draw too much power from these tourqeless wonders, but the core would constitute quite a restriction in the intake duct as well... though I supppose no more than an IC.

 

 

lol

 

Well, I know the parts I'd use for a prototype, but no cash = no parts = no prototype. My raise is supposed to be pro-rated to the 1st of the year, so maybe when it actually comes through, I'll have some cash.

 

Why not just get a air valve attach it to a tank of compressed CO2 and have jets facing the IC. The consequential dry ice should keep the intake charge cool for long enough for the jets to thaw then you can do it again.
All the pains of nitrous with a fraction of the benefits woohoo!
The water to air IC sounds like it may be something though. Shorter pipes than top mount and I would feel tough pouring antifreeze into your IC tank so cold it looks like aunt jemima made it before going racing.

Damn, just realized I don't even have a turbo.....