[s-cars] FMIC info digested...

[djdawson2@aol.com]

OK, let's say "inefficient."  It's a well established fact that the tube and fin IC doesn't perform as well as a bar and plate of equal size.  You can read about it anywhere, and often... so why would one choose that route?
 
Bar and plate intercooler cores function basically the same as a tube and fin core. In a bar and plate core, the charge air travels through passages that have more surface area... about a 35% larger surface area for cooling.  Yes, you CAN have a tube and fin IC that provides good results.  However, if you are limited in space (and we are) a tube and fin of size "x" will never provide the same heat transfer capability of a size "x" bar and plate IC.
 
Another point to consider is the mass of the BAP, compared to the TAF.  TAF cores are very light... whereas the BAP is quite heavy.  The BAP has a substantial ability to "store" energy... using it for those typically short periods of high output.
 
As a data point... see if you can find an OE tube and fin IC in any German performance car.  I certainly haven't seen everything... but in everything I have seen, it's been bar and plate.
 
But hey, YMMV, and if you like tube and fin, go for it.
 
Dave 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Swanson <mswanson at sonitrol.net>
To: djdawson2 at aol.com
Cc: gcmschemist at gmail.com; s-car-list at audifans.com; tmullane at gmail.com
Sent: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 22:09:12 -0500
Subject: Re: [s-cars] FMIC info digested...


>  It is a quality bar and plate IC (no tube and fin junk)

Dave,

Thats a rather broad and sweeping statement.  What makes you call ALL
tube and fin intercoolers junk?

--
Marc Swanson
95.5 //S6 Avant
90 CQ 4.2 V8 project car