Superchargers
Superchargers are a different way to achieve the same result: forcing air into the engine. However, this unit is physically attached to the engine drive-belt. It is located as close as possible to the engine cylinder head. The supercharger's efficiency is directly related to the engine speed -- the higher, the better. The amount of forced air is directly related to the engine speed.
There are two types of superchargers: The first is comprised of impellers similar to those found in turbochargers which force air through the intake manifold. The second, more commonly used type is made up of two screw-type drives that force air towards the intake manifold.
Cooling down blowers
Whichever blower you choose to force are into the engine, extra cooling needs to be provided in order to keep things in working order. Compressed air causes friction between molecules which produces heat, which can then easily damage internal engine parts and cause pre-ignition problems as well.
Furthermore, if the air molecules don't cool down enough they will expand, effectively reducing the amount of available air for combustion.
As you can see, proper cooling is a very important.
This process needs to happen before the air enters the combustion chamber.
Turbocharger
A cooling device (intercooler) is located between the engine and the turbocharging unit. This radiator-type device cools the air in the unit, and is usually located close to air inlets near the front end of the vehicle.
A trade-off between the location of the unit and the length of the ducts needs to be achieved in order to obtain maximum efficiency.
Supercharger
If the supercharger is of the turbine-impeller type, it will use a cooling system which resembles the unit used to cool turbochargers.
If it is of the screw-driven type, it most likely can't benefit from any form of air-cooling whatsoever. Its close proximity to the cylinder-head means that the air can only be cooled down by a small liquid-filled radiator. This liquid is then cooled by a radiator installed in the front end of the vehicle.
This type of liquid-to-air system is gaining in popularity with turbocharged engines as well. Its main advantage lies in the reduced length of the coolant ducts.
Superchargers are a different way to achieve the same result: forcing air into the engine. However, this unit is physically attached to the engine drive-belt. It is located as close as possible to the engine cylinder head. The supercharger's efficiency is directly related to the engine speed -- the higher, the better. The amount of forced air is directly related to the engine speed.
There are two types of superchargers: The first is comprised of impellers similar to those found in turbochargers which force air through the intake manifold. The second, more commonly used type is made up of two screw-type drives that force air towards the intake manifold.
Cooling down blowers
Whichever blower you choose to force are into the engine, extra cooling needs to be provided in order to keep things in working order. Compressed air causes friction between molecules which produces heat, which can then easily damage internal engine parts and cause pre-ignition problems as well.
Furthermore, if the air molecules don't cool down enough they will expand, effectively reducing the amount of available air for combustion.
As you can see, proper cooling is a very important.
This process needs to happen before the air enters the combustion chamber.
Turbocharger
A cooling device (intercooler) is located between the engine and the turbocharging unit. This radiator-type device cools the air in the unit, and is usually located close to air inlets near the front end of the vehicle.
A trade-off between the location of the unit and the length of the ducts needs to be achieved in order to obtain maximum efficiency.
Supercharger
If the supercharger is of the turbine-impeller type, it will use a cooling system which resembles the unit used to cool turbochargers.
If it is of the screw-driven type, it most likely can't benefit from any form of air-cooling whatsoever. Its close proximity to the cylinder-head means that the air can only be cooled down by a small liquid-filled radiator. This liquid is then cooled by a radiator installed in the front end of the vehicle.
This type of liquid-to-air system is gaining in popularity with turbocharged engines as well. Its main advantage lies in the reduced length of the coolant ducts.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert |