| fact that the flowtest data is only one side of the picture. Unfortunately, testing intercooler efficiency has proven to be a substantially more difficult procedure to perform. I've been giving a lot of thought to how the best way to go about testing intercooler efficiency will be but it always comes around to the fact we need to be able to see their performance across a very broad range of pressures and airflow, which aren't attainable on a flowbench.... which entails testing of the intercoolers ON the car. Unfortunately, environmental conditions change quicker than you can perform this test with the number of units out there and it will also mean I have to use two intercoolers, which increases shipping costs and potential damage to the units. Then the other solution would be to fabricate some wickedly-complex testing equipment using a serious power source to generate these pressures, temperatures, and airflow ratings to force through the intercoolers, along with a means to provide a metered amount of ambient airflow through the cooling face of the core. Add a data acquisition setup to datalog pressures, temperatures, airflow values, and you are going to have an appreciable amount of time and money involved to produce such a device. One potential solution would be to encourage a collaborative effort within the community but I tend to think the expense of the required equipment and effort involved will discourage most of those who could perform the testing.... I haven't looked into existing companies that can provide this type of testing, but I'm sure they exist; likely within the HVAC industry.
[ ashspecz.com ]
[ agpowers@bellsouth.net ] Enthusiasts soon understand each other. --W. Irving.
Are you an enthusiast? If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.
Albert Einstein
|
