Newb question about forced induction

[illuminatus]

Alright an idea popped into my head but I think it may have already been done. Here's what I want to know: What does a supercharger and a turbocharger do?

I know a supercharger works off the crank and is belt or chain driven. I know a turbocharger works off exhaust gases and is turbine driven. What I want to know is what do they do? Do superchargers and turbocharges just work by compressing air and then shooting it into the air intake? If so doesn't this mean that you could theoritcally just use compressed air and get similar results?

I also know NOS is an Oxygen carrying liquid that allows for a bigger charge.

EDIT: Or do superchargers/turbocharges just push more air not necessarily compressed.

 

[KPWSerpiente]

howstuffworks.com

Seriously...if you don't know that superchargers and turbochargers compress air...you should do a little bit of reading.

-T

 

[LousyDriver]

You esentially have it right, turbochargers, superchargers, and air compressors all do the same thing. The difference is in the volume and pressure involved. Air compressors can generate air compresses to 100-120 psi, but in very small volumes, on the order of a few to 40 cubic feet per minute.

Turbos and superchargers compress air to a few psi, but at much larger volumes, on the order of 400-1000 cubic feet per minute. Some turbos create pressure as high as 30-40 psi, but those are extreme cases.

Compressed air is a poor choice for a power booster due to a lot of practical problems. In theory it would work, but you would need to pressurize the intake without letting air bleed ot the filter, and even a large tank of compressed air wouldn't last long. N2O solves this problem by storing the oxygen in a liquified compound, which breaks down under combustion heat and releases the oxegen. It's much more practical, and if you start looking into what would be required for a compressed air system, I'm convinced you'll find N2O to be far more economical.

For a detailed explination try www.howstuffworks.com, and try to search for answers before posting. I haven't been on this board that long, and even I have seen this question posted a dozen times before. Searching is really a faster way to get an answer once you get the hang of it.

Welcome aboard.

 

[illuminatus]

Yeah howstuffworks.com was worthless. Wikipedia told me about supercharger being the same as turbo charges and then as soon as I hit post here then I read that turbo/superchargers are just air compressors.

So the question is still: can't you just have 2 large scuba tanks in the back and get similar results?

 

[c5chris]

Yeah howstuffworks.com was worthless. Wikipedia told me about supercharger being the same as turbo charges and then as soon as I hit post here then I read that turbo/superchargers are just air compressors.

So the question is still: can't you just have 2 large scuba tanks in the back and get similar results?

It will only last you a few seconds at most.

Forced induction is there to provide oxygen SUSTAINED as long as the engine is running. Drawback with the turbo is that it supplies heated and less dense oxygen to the intake manifold. This causes knock and can break your motor. Intercoolers take care of this problem to a certain extent.

 

[ikickuintheball]

Some turbos create pressure as high as 30-40 psi, but those are extreme cases.

Don't forget that turbo diesel trucks run a load of boost (40+psi), so that statement is inaccurate in those cases, but most turbos on gasoline powered cars don't boost 30-40psi.

 

[Zexell]

So would Nitrous be considered forced induction? And i thought it was a gas?

 

[InFlames]

So would Nitrous be considered forced induction? And i thought it was a gas?

No, it's considered a power adder. And it turns to a gas once it looses enough pressure (when it enters the engine/atmosphere)