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Commentator

Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 88

Charged Air Aftercooler

09/25/2010 9:29 AM

Hi,
This is with regards to the intercooler of a C9 caterpillar engine (off highway application) for the charged air.... I am using using my own heat exchanger (air to air) to cool the charged air after it has been compressed and before it goes to the engine intake.I have noticed that there has been significant amount of water in the air line after the cooler before the engine intake.... I suspect that it is due to condensation. The pressure and temperature of the air after the air cooler is about 35 psig and 100 degree F...The typical temperature of where i stay is about 86 degree F and the relative humidity is about 70%....I was wondering whether i am overcooling the charged air?? What is the right temperature i should be cooling it to....any help will be very much appreciated....

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Guru

Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1013
Good Answers: 36
#1

Re: Charged Air Aftercooler

09/26/2010 8:53 AM

Yes, in my opinion you are Overcooling the air.

Under normal standard operation where the cooling water is used, the compressed air does not cool down below the coling water temperature which is above 176 deg F. therefore, you should not drop down below that.

After cooling removes energy from the compressed air and a balance is achieved between the benefit and the losses to have an increase of the power generated by the combustion (increasing the fuel intake because more air is available...). Do not cool down below 185 F

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Anonymous Poster
#2

Re: Charged Air Aftercooler

09/26/2010 9:50 PM

You have achieved moving the compressed air water from condensating on the outside of the line to the inside of it.I think you have an air leak.

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Guru

Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1013
Good Answers: 36
#3
In reply to #2

Re: Charged Air Aftercooler

09/27/2010 7:04 AM

The outside air is at RH70% and it will only increase in temperature when cooling the compressed air after the turbo, therefore, the RH% will drop since it is the same air being heated, and this will prevent condensation of the outside air... Also, the inside air is at a higher pressure, preventing the outside air from going in --> no air leak into the compressed air.

The condensation will occur within the compressed air line if the pressure is high enough and the temperature is low enough. Therefore, compressing the air to 35 psi (2.5 times the atmospheric~), and then cooling it to 100F, is probably enough to condensate some water from a 70%RH at 86F source. If there is a chart for this pressure / temperature, you can consult it Or if able to calculate the state. I don't have a chart but would think it is near enough.

mainly, why cool it that far? It is not done on normal engines as far as I know. So keep it hot enough to prevent condensation, and cool enough to have the air density required for more combustion...

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