In Van Air AC series air-cooled after-coolers, hot compressed air is introduced to the core as ambient air is drawn across it, leaving the exiting air cooler. AC series after-coolers are normally sized for a 15°F (or less) approach to ambient air. For example, a compressor discharges 250°F air and the after-cooler is located in 80°F ambient conditions. With a 15°F approach, the air exiting the after-cooler will be 95°F and saturated, and the moisture created by cooling from 250°F to 95°F will condense.

Van Air WC series water-cooled after-coolers use water as a cooling medium. The cooling medium flows counter-currently through a shell and tube liquid-to-air heat exchanger. Countercurrent flow provides the most effective method of bringing the final compressed air temperature close to the cooling medium temperature. The air to be cooled is directed through multiple tubes. Each tube is helically enhanced to substantially increase the heat transfer capability over a plain tube.

Van Air Climate-Cooled after-coolers reduce high compressed air temperatures to safe operating levels without using water or electricity. Hot air from the compressor enters the separator/manifold and is divided into smaller streams as it flows through A-shaped cooling arms. Heat is dissipated in these finned-tube cooling arms and carried away by atmospheric air flowing over the fins.