Being a computer nerd, and having experience in building PCs, something occured to me after seeing this thread: https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/show...729#post389729

They mention that their heat exchangers are twice the size of stock, and have 15% more fins.

Now what I was wondering: Why dont more parts like this use copper? In the computer world, a heatsink made of a solid chunk of copper, or aluminum with a copper core, provides the best heat dissipation. Usually these cost a little more, but its never much more than aluminum products.

Since copper is better at conducting heat than aluminum (and it looks cooler), I dont see why a heat exchanger with maybe copper fins couldnt be feasable.

Anyway, has anyone ever heard of copper being used for cooling with cars?

 

Maybe because copper is really heavy?

 

+1..

 

Yeah I thought about the weight halfway through my post. Thats why at the end I suggested just the fins made of copper instead of a huge honking chunk.

 

Cost of Production?

 

Maybe.

The cost difference between these two is about $14:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835109119


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835109122


I suppose that difference would grow with a larger part like an aftercooler.

Anyway just thought I'd shoot the idea out there. Maybe the reason is just that nobody has considered it before. :P

 

Cons for using copper:
heavy
vary high oxidation rate.
strength

 

Oh yeah, I forgot about oxidation and copper

$14 bucks is the difference in price, but scale that up to a full size car
plus the difference in weight, its unorthodox

 

^ yeah.

Ahh oxidation. Thats something I didnt think of. Damn, there goes my sexy copper aftercooler! lol

 

i thought there was a way to coat copper so that it would no longer oxidize? also, just having the fins be copper, or coated in copper would save on weight and cost and still conduct heat better...

 

Speaking of cooling... could we add water wetter to the aftercooler resivoir? Would it work? Would it help?

 

I'm with the copper school. Once oxidation sets it in changes the thermal dynamics of the object.