would there be any difference in flow between running the air through two small inertcoolers as opposed to through one big one? it just occurs to me that two coolers would alow more flexability in locating them.

 

2 things come to mind right away,

greater head loss
decreased frontal area

 

why greater head loss? two small intercoolers should disapater heat faster than one large (easier to melt two small ice cubes than one large ice cube)

 

http://www.engineersedge.com/fluid_flow/head_loss.htm

and thats because the ice cubes have greater surface area to volume ratio than the single larger icecube, ie that assumes heat transfer from all sides.

In this case you really only have airflow from one side. And Unless you get a really cool setup (=$$$$) i dont see it ever getting equal to one large intercooler. (surface area wise)

That aside the headloss is still there.


zebro racing, just remember I can still be wrong about this, its a cool idea.

 

it says there that head loss is inversely proportional to diameter of the pipe. then why do i see so many people with 2.5" piping istead of 3"?

 

1 small intercooler + WI ftw !

 

Mostly Size Limitations, and Spool up difference.

 

spool up difference?

 

well the compressor is pressurizing the whole intake track.

Turbos push the air into the intake if that makes sense.

 

ahhhh

 

pipe diameter is not much of a bottleneck. that's why people use smaller piping. it's actually worse to step up and back down different pipe diameters.

if you basically took a large IC (long) and cut it down the middle and put tanks on both ends, the difference in losses would be pretty small. but where you gonna put all that??

 

I personally feel on the miata's 2 inch front the turbo to the IC is perfect.. with a 2.5 front IC to TB. That'll be the most effecient way to run an IC with an IC that fills up the entire front hole of the miata. 30x11x2.5 That would be perfect.

 

what if my turbo outlet is 2.5"?

 

For real. Although having two intercoolers sounds cool, one intercooler and WI would be more then enough cooling.

 

In corky's book he mentions going with two, but the did size calcs. for one, and split the numbers, I believe.

 

Right, but again, getting the same frontal area, and he skipped over head loss then, but I wouldnt.

 

i think it was for the interal flow area or something. i cant remember, but it was something like two 10"x10"x6" intercoolers.

 

Not to mention more plumbing involved, more couplings, more potential failure points.

Frank

 

I'm thinking 2 intercoolers vs. 1 intercooler would just equal 2 extra, pointless endtanks, all other things being equal.

 

The company I work for makes a twin intercooler setup for the new 2.0 VWs and its proving to be one of the best performing kits available, if not the best.
http://www.forgemotorsport.com/conte...oduct=FMINTMK5

Its a parallel setup not sequential, which is what I think you guys are all thinking of. VW used a sequential twin sidemount setup on the 225HP Audi TT, we make a frontmount for the TT that has the factory setup bested by about 15%, ~80% versus ~94%.