Quote:
Originally Posted by speedster
You have great posts and you really know your stuff  so please don't take this the wrong way, but it does still have an effect. There is roughly a 1% hp increase per 10 degree ambient Fahrenheit temp drop. Same as if you run your car at the strip on a 90 degree day versus a 50 degree day. |
1% increase is per ambient temp drop is a baseline number, but remember when air is compressed it's heated. In the case of a supercharger, even if the ambient temp is say 100degrees, the output temp (ie: post-compression) is going to be say 500degrees F. A 10deg increase in the original ambient source temp is going to have little to no affect on the output temperature -- perhaps less than a degree. This has little or no affect on the end result (Ie: horsepower as the final measurement). While having a lower intake charge *may* help increase power, it is highly subjective based on other environmental and design factors (type of engine, displacement, etc. etc).
It's safe to assume that in most cases, intercooling is also used. When this comes into play, the efficiency of the intercooling is the real factor, as outlet temps of compression tend to be a constant value at any given range.
In the grand scheme of things, the ability to delivery the correct VOLUME of air to the inlet far exceeds it's original temperature upon entry (for a street car). We get into turbine efficiency in jet engines for example, this changes a bit
Point being -- focus less on trying to cool the air before it gets to the compressor (which you have a very limited ability to drop it any significant amount over actual ambient..) and more on post compressor.
Edited for my horrible spelling LOL