Heat exchanger sizing
 

So I'm trying to workout what size heat exchanger I need for my car. I know bigger is better, but I don't plan on mounting mine front and center. I'm planning on two or possibly 3 cores, one on each side of the grille. If I end up with a 3rd core it could mount laid down in the center not blocking the radiator. What I don't know is what kind of total area I should aim for?

To make this a little simpler I'm only looking at length and width. Thickness is something I'll add into it later, but a stock core is only .5" thick and everything I'm looking at is 1.4" or thicker so total water capacity will also be higher.

Lets say that a normal core size for a CTS-V is 21x16 I have a total area of 336 sq. in., but a ZR1 uses a smaller core in the area of 9x24 for 216 sq. in.

So lets say I have 2 cores that are 9x9 (81sq. each 162sq. total) and then I add a 3rd core thats 10x20 (200sq.) that gives me a total of 368sq. in. of surface are. Or the 3rd core that 17x11 which would give me 355sq. in.

I'm gonna have to measure, if I can get away with using 2 17x11 heat exchangers thats 374sq. in. and should be more than enough to cool my supercharger.

Basically whats the school of thought on this?

Why ? Go with what works. C&r for me

Because a HX in front of a radiator increases thermo load. I also don't have a stock style radiator layout. If I separate the two I can better manage the heat using a stock size radiator instead of having to go with a larger system. For example, the C7 Z06 has a over heating problem on the track after 15-20 min. Even with an after market radiator it still over heats. Move the HX out of the way and to the sides the car no longer overheats. My issue is I can't find a recommended size of a HX based on HP. I think I figured it out though based on the biggest aftermarket HX for a ZR1 I could find and then did some math off of that.

Do you plan on running independent fans per HX? If your constantly moving no issue but if you see any stop and go traffic the IAT heats up quickly.

FWIW my core size is 22" wide x 9" high x 3" deep and i have no IAT issues mounted on the lower half of the radiator opening

Also if you can calculate the needed BTU/hr Setrab has a pretty good data base.
http://www.setrabusa.com/products/oi...ine/index.html

I was planning a small brushless fan on each one for when stopped or in traffic.

The aftermarket ZR1 HX I found was 22"x16.5" so thats what I was going off of and I think it said 31,000 BTU. Going 11"x17" was a little more frontal area so I should be ok with that.

Can you use a oil cooler for a supercharger HX? They have a few that are smaller, but a higher BTU.

I know someone who installed this kit and the HX was branded Setrab.

http://www.racingsolutions.com/produ...2003-2006.html

How are you controlling the fans? I've thought of using an additional push fan but haven't seen the need for extra air flow yet.

That’s very interesting about the exchanger.

I haven’t decided yet. They are brushless. They are GM C7Z trans cooler fans 23267979 and are PWM controlled. I thought about tying them into the cooling fan signal wire, but there is also after market stand alone controllers.

At one time Ebay was littered with Setrab Nascar units. I'm pretty sure they use the M22 fitting and can adapt to -12an which ever size you want.

We've used oil coolers as heat exchangers before. Not in vehicles that got raced, but they were good enough on the dyno, without their own fans.

Earls has quite a few options, Setrab & Tru-Cool seem to be the leaders in the stacked plate style though.

-Dale

Interesting. That opens a whole lot more options for me in terms of size of coolers.