A heat exchanger used to cool the compressed air leaving the compression stage in order to send it to the next compression stage with a lower temperature to increase the overall efficiency of the process. The cooler the air, the less burden is placed on the second stage, and it enables the air compressor system to function efficiently.
Intercoolers can be liquid or air cooled. This cooling process is usually accompanied by the release of moisture condensate, so condensate separators (called condensate drains or drains) should be used behind every compressed air cooler.
