In former days these were filled with ice to cool incoming air.
In addition, the cooling ware and walls below preheat the incoming air.
This cooling of the incoming air is critical in achieving a reasonable efficiency.
This is done by transfer of energy to the incoming outside fresh air.
Throughout the cooling season, the system works to cool and dehumidify the incoming, outside air.
The tempering of incoming fresh air is done by a heat or energy recovery core.
Modern turbocharged aircraft usually do not need to cool the incoming air.
This can happen because the incoming air, moving across a person's skin, creates a "wind chill" effect.
The gas mixes with additional incoming air to provide a secondary burn.
Vie had forgotten the lag before the incoming air could be cut!