30-amp HydroChiller:

60-amp HydroChiller Extreme:

Uses Peltier devices to cool the intercooler fluid. Both $600.

They make some questionable claims:

"These systems will lower your liquid temps bellow ambient, guaranteed or your money back! There is no other way to do this unless you add ice to the system and that runs out pretty quick. The HydroChiller is a 21st century solution for advanced intercooling technology. You will see a 30 degree drop or more in liquid temps depending on the system you choose. That represents about a 70 degree decrease in air charge temperature, . . ."

Below ambient, maybe, but how does a 30 degree drop in fluid temps equal a 70 degree drop in charge air temp? That seems backwards to me. That would seem to require a 200+% effective intercooler -- which is physically impossible.

So who wants to try it?

 

where the heck would you mount it? Does it use refrigerant to cool it?

 

Dunno where to mount it, but it uses thermoelectric (AKA "Peltier") devices. They are very inefficient devices that, when large amounts of current are applied to them, get cold. Computer geeks have been using them for years.

I am on record in the past saying that it won't work. I don't see how these devices have the cooling power. It takes one device to cool a computer chip to below ambient. How in the heck can just a few of them deal with the BTUs cranked out by a supercharger?

I would love to be proven wrong, though.

 

You're right. It won't work. Think about the size and heat of a CPU. Think about the size of a peltier system for it. Than multiply that by a hundred-fold. Unless something extremely efficient is out there, I doubt it would work.

 

Modern CPUs are about 50 watts.

1 horsepower = 745.7 watts = 2544.43 BTU/hr

30 amps for the smaller unit = about 400 watts.

In defense of the HydroChiller, though, the manufacturer states that, like Ford's A/C-operated device, the vehicle is not in boost 99% of the time. So while there is no way that this device could work steady-state, it might work for short bursts.

The fact that a fluid temp gauge is encouraged by the manufacturer is promising.

But say you adjust your timing for a 10-second flash on the dyno with supercooled fluids. Then you go out and run triple digits on the highway for a bit. Unless you left some cushion in there, it seems that your timing would now be dangerous.

I am going to send an e-mail to them and see if they will discuss their device here.

 

I have quite a bit of experience with Petlier junctions. I seriously doubt that the junctions would be of any use. The thermal load on the junction would be far beyond the effective T-Deltas of 12V devices, even at 25-30A. The best 12 V devices can only move 30W with a 30F delta at 68F ambient, and that also assumes near perfect heat dissipation on the hot sides. Any warmer than that and the cooling effictiveness declines sharply.

 

Hell if someone wants to help me pay for it, I will install one on my truck and post the results. If it works, I will pay back all the money donated.

 

I was going to say the same thing
YOU BUY
I'LL TRY

I guess you could always remove the lower Grill and mount that monster right there ??? (needs to be painted and protected 1st)

 

that massive amount of peltier cooling will make the Hot sides way too hot.

You'd need to locate that assumely in some weird position so the heat runs off away from the engine bay and air intake.

I mod computer a ton and know pletny about peltier cooling with computer.

Also the peltiers for that setup need to be WATERCOOLED, not air+ heatsink.

 

Why bother with the peltier systems? There are already products out there that chill using the A/C like ford's supercooler. I know one of the TX guys is using one to good effect.