20 December 2016

Advantages and disadvantages of supercharger

A supercharger is an air compressor that increases an internal combustion engine's pressure or density of air supplied. This gives more oxygen to each engine intake cycle, allowing it to burn more fuel and do more work, thereby increasing power. Let us have a deep insight into the pros and cons of the supercharger in this article. 

Advantages of superchargers :

  • No turbo lag, so good response for throttle.
  • Turbochargers require the cooling system as it's in contact with exhaust gas this problem is not in supercharges.
  • Increased horsepower.
  • Good power at low RPM as compare to turbocharges.
  • More reliable is subject to less thermal stress and mechanical.
  • Superchargers come in three forms centrifugal, screw and Vane type. The vane and screw-type superchargers can deliver air at little higher pressures than a turbocharger.
  • No special shutdown procedure is required with superchargers because they are not lubricated by the engine oil, they can be shut down normally. 

Disadvantages of superchargers :

  • Less efficient than turbochargers.
  • The biggest disadvantages are that they suck engine power simply to produce engine power.
  • A supercharger can consume as much as 20 % of an engine's total power output
  • superchargers are still the most cost-effective way to increase horsepower.
  • Increased consumption, because it can not take advantage of the exhaust gas, but absorbs energy from the engine.