felixblack1

What's the difference in efficiency with a bar and plate intercooler compared with a aluminium tube and fin?

I'm considering buying this bar and plate intercooler which came off another series 5, but the price is a bit hefty.

Thanks!
Felix

HWO

their pressure drop and flow rates are superior to a normal intercooler core

Evil Aviator

Bar & Plate: Heavy construction = handles high-boost well and has good heat sink effect for road racing, but slightly heavier and heat soaks more when the car is stopped.

Extruded Tube: Lighter construction = lower boost rating, cools more uniformly, slightly less weight, but the required header gives it less capacity and surface area (ie more pressure drop) than a Bar & Plate of the same dimensions.

felixblack1

thanks for the replies!
i guess it wouldn't be a good idea to paint it black then?

Evil Aviator

I don't think it matters either way. I have seen them plain, I have seen them black, and I have seen them plain with a black "Spearco" painted on them. Maybe you could paint it checkerboard, or paint half of it black like those guys on Star Trek?

maxcooper

My understanding was that bar & plate had more surface area per unit volume and thus more cooling, but offered more resistance to air flow, so had worse pressure drop per unit of cross sectional flow area.

Intuitively this makes sense -- more turbulators inside the flow area makes for more heat transfer but impedes air flow. Like most things, there is a trade-off.

-Max

felixblack1

hmmm chequered, interesting. who knows it could start off a phase. or maybe i should get it powder coated of some lion or something. (kidding!)


being black i thought it might absorb radiator heat, but it's supposed to work both ways. that is, transfer heat from the charged air when on the move.
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I thought the trade-off was the price.