Editing Intercooler (section)

== Air compressors ==
[[File:Ingersoll-Rand Class AA-2 air compressor cross section 1910.png|thumb|left|Top-mounted intercooler on a 1910 [[Ingersoll Rand]] two-stage air compressor]]
[[File:Inter_Cooler.jpg|thumb|Schematic of a two-stage compressor with intercooler]]

Intercoolers are used to remove the waste heat from the first stage of two-stage air compressors.  Two-stage air compressors are manufactured because of their inherent efficiency.  The cooling action of the intercooler is principally responsible for this higher efficiency, bringing it closer to [[Carnot efficiency]].  Removing the heat-of-compression from the discharge of the first stage has the effect of densifying the air charge.  This, in turn, allows the second stage to produce more work from its fixed compression ratio. Adding an intercooler to the setup requires additional investments.