DUAL PASS INTERCOOLED SUPERCHARGER
The dual pass intercooled supercharger includes a supercharger and intercooler. The system is configured such that air leaving the supercharger traverses the intercooler from one side to an opposing side two or more times.
1 . A dual pass intercooled supercharger, comprising:
a supercharger; and
an intercooler in fluid communication with an exit of the supercharger, the intercooler configured as a dual pass heat exchanger having an airflow path from the supercharger that passes through the heat exchanger more than once.
2 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 1 , wherein air from the supercharger passes a first portion of the intercooler and then a second portion different from the first portion.
3 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 2 , wherein the second portion comprises two second portions on opposing sides of the first portion.
4 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 3 , further comprising a housing, a first seal to prevent air from bypassing the intercooler positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the intercooler.
5 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 4 , further comprising a second seal between an exterior edge of the intercooler and the housing.
6 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 5 , further comprising a first chamber between the supercharger and the intercooler, wherein the first seal circumscribes a portion of the first chamber.
7 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 6 , further comprising a second chamber between the intercooler and the housing.
8 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 7 , wherein the second chamber is coextensive with a substantial portion of the intercooler second side, and the second seal circumscribes a portion of the second chamber.
9 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of air outlets directed toward a lower side of the dual pass intercooled supercharger on opposing sides of the supercharger, and the intercooler is positioned above the supercharger.
10 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 9 , wherein the intercooler is configured such that air enters and leaves the intercooler on a lower side of the intercooler.
11 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger is planar along an entire area with a substantially constant thickness.
12 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is enclosed in a single housing.
13 . The dual pass intercooled supercharger of claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a heat exchange surface enclosing a heat exchange fluid medium, the heat exchange surface defining a heat exchange area, the heat exchanger configured such that the airflow path from the supercharger is configured to contact a first portion of the heat exchange surface, is configured to leave the heat exchange area, and reenter the heat exchange area to contact the heat exchange surface at a separate second portion.
14 . A method of compressing and cooling air to an engine intake, comprising:
compressing the air in a supercharger;
passing the air exiting the supercharger through a first portion of an intercooler in fluid communication with an exit of the supercharger,
exiting the air from the intercooler into a common chamber;
passing the air from the common chamber through a second portion of the intercooler different from the first portion of the intercooler, wherein a heat exchange medium of the intercooler is in fluid communication between the first portion and the second portion.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising passing cooled heat exchange medium into the intercooler adjacent the second portion of the intercooler.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising removing warmed heat exchange medium from the intercooler adjacent the first portion of the intercooler.