What Is A Charge Air Cooler?

A charge air cooler (also known as an intercooler) is a device used in internal combustion engines, typically in turbocharged or supercharged engines, to cool the compressed air before it enters the engine's combustion chamber. The charge air cooler reduces the temperature of the compressed air by dissipating heat to the ambient air or to a coolant system.

When air is compressed by a turbocharger or a supercharger, its temperature increases. Hot air is less dense than cold air, and less dense air contains less oxygen. By cooling the compressed air before it enters the engine's combustion chamber, a charge air cooler increases its density, allowing more oxygen to be packed into the same volume of air. This, in turn, allows more fuel to be burned, resulting in increased power and improved fuel efficiency.

Charge air coolers can be air-to-air or liquid-to-air, depending on the engine's design and application. In air-to-air coolers, the compressed air is cooled by passing through a heat exchanger, typically located in the engine's air intake system. In liquid-to-air coolers, the compressed air is cooled by passing through a heat exchanger that is connected to the engine's coolant system.