Supercharger

A SEMINAR REPORT
Seminar Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
award of the degree of B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering under
Biju Pattnaik University of Technology
by

SUSHANT KUMAR
REGD NO:1201229282

Under the Guidance of

Asst. prof. Rashmi Ranjan Senapati
( Department of Mechanical Engineering)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
DRIEMS, CUTTACK, ODISHA

November- 2015
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the Seminar entitled supercharger presented by Sushant kumar bearing
Registration No. 1201229282 of Mechanical Engineering in DRIEMS has been completed
successfully.

This is in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Bachelor Degree in Mechanical

Engineering under Biju Pattnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha.

we wish him success in all future endeavors.

Asst. Prof. Rashmi Ranjan Senapati

(Seminar guide)

Asst. Prof. Sonali Rath

(Seminar-In-Charge)

Prof. Deepak Ranjan Biswal

(HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my guide, Asst. Prof. Rashmi
Ranjan Senapati of Mechanical Engineering for his unflagging support and continuous
encouragement throughout the seminar work. Without his guidance and persistent help this
report would not have been possible.

I must acknowledge the faculties and staffs of Mechanical Engineering for their support.
Its great pleasure to acknowledge my colleagues for helping me.
I am specially grateful to all.

Signature Of The Student

Name : Sushant kumar
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Regd. No : 1201229282

Abstract

To increase the output efficiency of any engine we have to burn more fuel and make bigger
explosion in every cycle. We have two options for this. One way to add power is to build a
bigger engine. But bigger engines, which weigh more and cost more to build and maintain,
are not always better. Another way to add power is to make a normal-sized engine more
efficient. We can accomplish this by forcing more air into the combustion chamber. More air
means more fuel can be added, and more fuel means a bigger explosion and greater
horsepower. This can be done with the help of a supercharger.

A supercharger is basically an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal

combustion engine. It does the same work as that of a compressor, i.e. it compresses the air
being delivered to the combustion chamber of an engine. The greater mass flow-rate provides
more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally-aspirated engine,
which allows more fuel to be provided and more work to be done per cycle, increasing the
power output of the engine. Thus a supercharger is extra equipment provided in an engine so
as to boost the capacity and the torque of an engine.

Name : Sushant kumar

Regd. no : 1201229282

Semester :7th
Branch : Mechanical Engg.
Section : A

List of Figure
1.1 A typical supercharger

1.2 Working engine equipped with a supercharger

2.1 Types of supercharger

3.1 Working of Root supercharger

3.2 Working of a twin-screw supercharger

3.3 Working of a centrifugal supercharger

4.1 Root supercharger

10

4.2 Twin-screw supercharger

4.3 Centrifugal supercharger

10
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgement

Abstract

ii

List of Figure

iii

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Why superchargers?

1.2 Principal of working

2. Classification of superchargers

3. Commonly used superchargers

3.1 Roots supercharger.

3.2 Twin-Screw Supercharger

3.3 Centrifugal Supercharger

3.4 History

4. Diagrammatic Illustration

10

5. Drives used in Superchargers

12

6. Supercharger, An edge over turbocharger

13

7. Nothing is perfect.

14

8. Conclusion

15

References.

16

1. INTRODUCTION
To increase the output efficiency of any engine we have to burn more fuel and make bigger
explosion in every cycle. We have two options for this. One way to add power is to build a
bigger engine. But bigger engines, which weigh more and cost more to build and maintain,
are not always better. Another way to add power is to make a normal-sized engine more
efficient. We can accomplish this by forcing more air into the combustion chamber. More air
means more fuel can be added, and more fuel means a bigger explosion and greater
horsepower. This can be done with the help of a supercharger.

A supercharger is basically an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal

combustion engine. It does the same work as that of a compressor, i.e. it compresses the air
being delivered to the combustion chamber of an engine. The greater mass flow-rate provides
more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally-aspirated engine,
which allows more fuel to be provided and more work to be done per cycle, increasing the
power output of the engine.
Thus a supercharger is extra equipment provided in an engine so as to boost the capacity and
the torque of an engine.

A Typical Supercharger

(Fig-1.1)
1

1.1 WHY SUPERCHARGER ?

A supercharger is used in an engine for various reasons.
Some of the advantages of superchargers are as follows:

Increases the power of an engine.

A supercharger spinning at 50,000 RPM translates to a boost of about six to nine

pounds per square inch (psi).

Increases the torque produced.

An efficiently working engine with supercharger can achieve the same speed in one
third of the time taken by the same engine without supercharger.

Necessary in airplanes and jets as they have less oxygen at high altitudes. So they
provide the sufficient amount of air by compressing it to higher pressure. And ensures
complete combustion.

Higher amount of oxygen in compressed air from supercharger ensures complete

combustion of the fuel.

Complete combustion reduces pollution to some extent.

1.2 PRINCIPLE OF WORKING

More fuel + More air = Bigger explosion=Greater horsepower.

Every supercharger works on the same above mentioned tagline.
It is quite evident that to get more output from any engine we need to burn more fuel. More
fuel will result in a bigger explosion in every cycle, which will then push the piston with
more thrust, and consequently this thrust will be transmitted to the wheels with the help of
crank and shaft. Wheels will rotate faster and with more power and that is how it works.
But, to burn more fuel in an engine, we need more air in it (The chemically correct mixture
(14: 1:: air : fuel) is essential for an engine to operate perfectly). Thus a supercharger
compresses the air being delivered to the engine so as to supply more air in the same, limited
volume of the cylinder. This ensures complete combustion of the fuel and no unburnt fuel
comes out of the exhaust. Thus the supercharger increases the power output of any engine.
Diagram of a working engine equipped with a supercharger

(Fig-1.2)
3

2. CLASSIFICATION OF SUPERCHARGERS
Based on method of compression, Superchargers can be classified as:-

1.

Positive-displacement type, which deliver a nearly-fixed volume of air per revolution at all
speeds and a fairly constant level of boost regardless of engine speed.

2.

Dynamic compressors rely on accelerating the air to high speed and then exchanging that
velocity for pressure by diffusing or slowing it down & deliver increasing boost with
increasing engine speed.
A supercharger comes in two different variations:
Positive displacement and dynamic compressors.
A positive displacement supercharger pushes air into the engine at a constant speed, while a
dynamic supercharger uses velocity to manipulate the pressure in the air.

In either case, oxygen is compressed as it is delivered to the engine, allowing more power to
be gained from every explosion in the combustion chambers.
Types of supercharger

(Fig-2.1)
4

3. COMMONLY USED SUPERCHARGERS

Nowadays, there are several types of superchargers used in the engines.

Following are some of the most commonly used superchargers in the market.

Roots Superchargers

Twin-Screw Superchargers

Centrifugal Superchargers

3.1 ROOTS SUPERCHARGER

Constructional features: It consists of two meshing lobes that are fitted on two parallel
shafts. Those lobes resembles to a lobe gear that are in continuous mesh. Both the lobes mesh
in such a manner that the air pockets between these lobes and the side walls goes on

decreasing as air moves from the fill side to the discharge side. Thus the passing air gets
squeezed.
Working of Roots Supercharger:

As the meshing lobes spin, air trapped in the pockets

between the lobes is carried between the fill side and the discharge side & large quantities of
air move into the intake manifold and "stack up" to create positive pressure. This pressurized
air is received at the discharge side.
Roots superchargers are usually large and sit on top of the engine.
Roots superchargers are the least efficient supercharger for two reasons:1. They add more weight to the vehicle.
2. They provide air in discrete bursts instead of providing in a smooth & continuous
manner.

Working of Root supercharger

(Fig-3.1)

3.2 TWIN-SCREW SUPERCHARGERS

Constructional features: Twin-Screw Superchargers consist of two meshing lobes that
resemble a set of worm gear. The two gears meshes in such a way that the air pockets
between them goes on decreasing as air moves ahead.
Working of Twin Screw Superchargers: A twin-screw supercharger operates by pulling air
through a pair of meshing lobes that resemble a set of worm gears.
The rotors have a conical taper, which means the air pockets decrease in size as air moves
from the fill side to the discharge side. Thus a twin-screw supercharger compresses the air
inside the rotor housing.
As the air pockets shrink, the air is squeezed into a smaller space.
Thus twin-screw superchargers are more efficient compared to roots supercharger.
They cost more because the screw-type rotors require more precision in the manufacturing
process.

 They also make a lot of noise.

The compressed air exiting the discharge outlet creates a whine or whistle that must be
checked with noise suppression techniques.
Working of a twin-screw supercharger

(Fig-3.2)
7

3.3 CENTRIFUGAL SUPERCHARGERS

Constructional features: Centrifugal superchargers consist of an impeller with several
blades that rotate at a very high speed at around 50000 rpm. This impeller throws the air
outside due to centrifugal force. It also consists of a diffuser which exchanges the speed for
high pressure.
Working of Centrifugal Supercharger: As the air is drawn in the hub of the impeller,
centrifugal force causes it to radiate outward. The air leaves the impeller at high speed, but
low pressure. A diffuser converts the high-speed, low-pressure air to low-speed, highpressure air. Thus pressurized air is achieved.

Impeller speeds can reach 50,000 to 60,000 RPM.

Centrifugal superchargers are the most efficient and the most common induction
systems.

They are small, lightweight and attachable to the front of the engine.

Thus the centrifugal superchargers are the best among the above list.
Working of a centrifugal supercharger

(Fig-3.3)

3.4 HISTORY OF SUPERCHARGERS

The Roots supercharger is the oldest design of supercharger used in any type of engine.
Philander and Francis Roots, in 1860, introduced the concept of such type of equipment.
Though they patented the design as a machine that would help ventilate mine shafts, later this
turned out to be a miraculous invention for automotive engineers.

In 1900, Gottleib Daimler for the first time included a Roots supercharger in a car engine
which improved the output of the engine. This was the first step towards its development.

4. DIAGRAMATIC ILLUSTRATION

ROOT SUPERCHARGER

(Fig-4.1)

TWIN-SCREW SUPERCHARGER

(Fig-4.2)

10

CENTRIFUGAL SUPERCHARGER

(Fig-4.3)

11

5. DRIVES USED IN SUPERCHARGERS

Drives are basically the equipments that are used to transfer power from one shaft to another
shaft. In a supercharger, drives are used to transfer part of engine power to the supercharger

There are several types of drives used to empower a supercharger. These drives are used
according to there requirements.

Some of them are as under:

Mechanical:-

Belt (V belt, toothed belt & Flat belt).

Gear drive.

Chain drive.

Exhaust gas turbines:-

Axial turbine.

Radial turbine.
Other:-

Electric motor.

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6. SUPERCHARGER
AN
EDGE OVER TURBOCHARGER
Superchargers do not suffer lag: - Superchargers have no lag time because they are driven
directly by the crankshaft, whereas Turbochargers suffers lag because it takes a few moments
before the exhaust gases reach a velocity that is sufficient to drive the impeller/turbine.
Since the superchargers are directly empowered from the engine, so as the engine starts, the
superchargers can be activated. But in the case of turbochargers they take some time for the
accumulation of exhaust gases.

Modification of the exhaust system: - Installing a turbocharger requires extensive

modification of the exhaust system, but superchargers can be bolted to the top or side of the
engine, that makes them cheaper to install and easier to service and maintain.
So this becomes a problem in the case of turbochargers. It becomes a tough task to modify
the exhaust system as well as it adds an extra cost in the vehicle.

Shutdown procedure: - No special shutdown procedure is required with superchargers as

they are not lubricated by engine oil. They can be shut down normally. Whereas
turbochargers must idle for about 30 seconds or so prior to shutdown so the lubricating oil
has a chance to cool down.
Thus it creates a problem during shutdown procedure as turbochargers cant be shutdown
normally.

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7. NOTHING IS PERFECT

It derives power from the engine itself: Crankshaft drives superchargers so they steal
some of the engine's horsepower. A supercharger can consume as much as 20 percent of an
engine's total power output. So it can be considered as a loss of engine power.
(But because a supercharger can generate as much as 46 percent additional horsepower, I
think the trade-off is worth it).
Whereas this is not the case in turbochargers, it empowers itself from the exhaust gas of the
engine, which is mainly a waste of the engine.

An added strain on the engine: Supercharging puts an added strain on the engine, which
needs to be strong to handle the extra boost and bigger explosions. Engine and the other
connected mechanisms have to be made robust enough to bear the extra pressure. So this
makes the design engineer task tougher.

An extra expense: Heavy-duty components, design complexity & maintenance add an

extra burden on the expenses. And these expenses have to be made for better performance
without any compromise.
Though this seems too much, but when compared to its output, this seems a good deal.

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8. CONCLUSION

Despite their disadvantages, superchargers are still the most cost-effective way to
increase horsepower.

Superchargers can result in power increase of 50 to 100 percent, making them great
for racing, towing heavy loads or just adding excitement to the typical driving experience.

It is a must use component in an airplanes.

As superchargers ensure complete combustion, it greatly reduces the pollution

problem.

With the use of high octane premium-grade gas, I think it is a miracle invention for
speed junkies.

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REFERENCES

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/supercharger5.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/search.php?terms=supercharger

http://www.superchargerpros.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercharger

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercharger#History

http://www.magnusonproducts.com/

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