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Intercoolers
The turbocharger is one of the best to methods to generate power in your car. Because it is very temperamental it requires a number of support components to make sure it operates at maximum efficiency. One of these components is an Intercooler.
You have most likely seen an intercooler before. It looks like a small radiator. An intercooler exists to help solve a problem inherent with a turbo: the high temperatures of the compressed air leaving the turbo. By positioning the intercooler in-line of the piping between the turbo and the intake manifold, air from the turbo is cooled as it passes through the intercooler.
Removing heat from the intake charge is beneficial into ways. The first is that it increases the density of the air. The density increase would generally be around 10 to 15%, depending on boost level and intercooler efficiency. Perhaps of even more value is the reduced chance of detonation. Detonation is the condition when the air/fuel mixture is not ignited properly, causing severe stress on the engine. With a lowered chance of detonation, a turbo system may be able to handle an additional 4-5 psi of boost.
The key attributes of an intercooler are how efficient the unit is at removing heat and how much pressure is lost as air flows through it. Both are dependent on how good of a design a intercooler has. Don't by a intercooler just because it's big. There are other design factors such as internal flow area, core sizing, and ducting shape that are more important than size.
Sources:
Super Street Magazine, November 1998 pg 52