Optimising Intake Temperatures On Forced Induction
Discussion
I'm underinformed on how get the best out of my turbo and the temperature of the intake air is something I'd like to optimise.
So - ignoring that bigger intercoolers are the obvious answer..what about the rest of the plumbing?
I'm using my 944T as my specific example but feel free to chip in with general knowledge on how these things work.
If we start at the compressor exit - how hot will the charge be leaving it at? In my case the charge goes down black 'rubber' tubing, past the block and into the intercooler.
Black is the best colour for radiating OR absorbing heat. So if the charge is hot enough then that's best for radiating heat away. But if it's cool it's picking up heat from the (in my case) pretty hot engine bay.
The rubberised hosing - good insulator from the engine bay heat or 'bad' insulator keeping the heat in?
There are obvious solutions to this in the form of aluminium hard pipes. But that gives you the opposite effects from the above ie aluminium has great heat transfer - but are you gaining or losing in the battle for lower temperatures. Silver is the worst radiative/absorbant colour but aluminium beats rubber hands down as a conductor.
And is the difference marginal or noticable? Obviously I'm toying with some aluminium hard pipes (they look great and the retailers promise much) but I'd much rather listen to neutral observers with experience.
A Heath-Robinson idea hit me of encasing all the intake plumbing inside that aluminium ducting that boy racers often use to channel cold air to their air filter - if it had a cool air feed then it's effectively a bodged up additional intercooler/insulator from engine heat. But if it's a good idea why hasn't someone clevererer than me done it already?
The intercooled air obviously wants to be kept cool too (not too bad in my case - shortish transit and not too close to the block).
And since it's pretty warm in the engine bay.....lag the hot bits? Exhaust lagging is well known but how about turbo lagging?
Yeah, I know - get a better intercooler. But once you have the biggest one you can cram in where do you go?
So - ignoring that bigger intercoolers are the obvious answer..what about the rest of the plumbing?
I'm using my 944T as my specific example but feel free to chip in with general knowledge on how these things work.
If we start at the compressor exit - how hot will the charge be leaving it at? In my case the charge goes down black 'rubber' tubing, past the block and into the intercooler.
Black is the best colour for radiating OR absorbing heat. So if the charge is hot enough then that's best for radiating heat away. But if it's cool it's picking up heat from the (in my case) pretty hot engine bay.
The rubberised hosing - good insulator from the engine bay heat or 'bad' insulator keeping the heat in?
There are obvious solutions to this in the form of aluminium hard pipes. But that gives you the opposite effects from the above ie aluminium has great heat transfer - but are you gaining or losing in the battle for lower temperatures. Silver is the worst radiative/absorbant colour but aluminium beats rubber hands down as a conductor.
And is the difference marginal or noticable? Obviously I'm toying with some aluminium hard pipes (they look great and the retailers promise much) but I'd much rather listen to neutral observers with experience.
A Heath-Robinson idea hit me of encasing all the intake plumbing inside that aluminium ducting that boy racers often use to channel cold air to their air filter - if it had a cool air feed then it's effectively a bodged up additional intercooler/insulator from engine heat. But if it's a good idea why hasn't someone clevererer than me done it already?
The intercooled air obviously wants to be kept cool too (not too bad in my case - shortish transit and not too close to the block).
And since it's pretty warm in the engine bay.....lag the hot bits? Exhaust lagging is well known but how about turbo lagging?
Yeah, I know - get a better intercooler. But once you have the biggest one you can cram in where do you go?
You mean like 'how hot will the charge be leaving it at' (the turbo).
I tried but nobody wanted to say. I don't know any of these things and was fishing for info so I could get my head round the problem (and whether it is a problem).
You ask on PH and you don't know where it's going to end. Usually somewhere else and often with a big row in the middle
I tried but nobody wanted to say. I don't know any of these things and was fishing for info so I could get my head round the problem (and whether it is a problem).
You ask on PH and you don't know where it's going to end. Usually somewhere else and often with a big row in the middle
May I refer the honourable gentleman to my first post.
I'm looking for ballpark figures and generalities so I can get a mental picture of what's going on. I obviously know bugger all about the details at the moment. I was hoping this thread would teach me useful stuff and maybe stop me splashing cash on outrageous crap that gets sold to idiots.
I'm looking for ballpark figures and generalities so I can get a mental picture of what's going on. I obviously know bugger all about the details at the moment. I was hoping this thread would teach me useful stuff and maybe stop me splashing cash on outrageous crap that gets sold to idiots.
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