What is supercharger

 A supercharger is a device that increases the pressure of air entering an internal combustion engine. This results in a higher density of air, allowing more fuel to be burned and increasing the engine's power output. Superchargers can be mechanical or electrical, and are commonly used in performance vehicles to increase horsepower and torque. Some vehicles come with a factory-installed supercharger, while others can be retrofitted with aftermarket superchargers.

In 1849, G. Jones of Birmingham, England began manufacturing a lobe pump compressor to provide ventilation for coal mines.^[14] In 1860, the Roots Blower Company (founded by brothers Philander and Francis Marion Roots) in the United States patented the design for an air mover for use in blast furnaces and other industrial applications. This air mover and Birmingham's ventilation compressor both used designs similar to that of the later Roots-type superchargers.

In March of 1878, German engineer Heinrich Krigar obtained the first patent for a screw-type compressor.^[15] The design was a two-lobe rotor assembly with identically-shaped rotors, however the design did not reach production.

Also in 1878, Scottish engineer Dugald Clerk designed the first supercharger which was used with an engine.^[16] This supercharger was used with a two-stroke gas engine.^[17] Gottlieb Daimler received a German patent for supercharging an internal combustion engine in 1885.^[18] Louis Renault patented a centrifugal supercharger in France in 1902.^[19][20]

There are two main types of superchargers: mechanical and electric.

A mechanical supercharger is driven by a belt connected to the engine's crankshaft. This type of supercharger is typically less efficient than an electric supercharger, but it is also less expensive.

An electric supercharger, also known as an e-supercharger or electric turbocharger, is powered by an electric motor rather than being connected to the engine. This type of supercharger can deliver boost almost instantaneously, which improves throttle response and overall performance. Electric superchargers are more efficient than mechanical superchargers, but they are also more expensive.

A turbocharger and a supercharger are both devices that increase the amount of air that an engine can consume, which allows for more fuel to be burned and more power to be produced. However, the way they accomplish this is different. A turbocharger uses exhaust gases to drive a turbine that compresses the air going into the engine, while a supercharger is driven directly by the engine's crankshaft. Superchargers provide instant power as they are directly connected to engine, while Turbocharger needs some time to spool up and provide the boost. Turbochargers are more efficient but also more complex, while superchargers are simpler but less efficient.

Types of supercharger

There are several types of superchargers, including:

1. Centrifugal superchargers: These superchargers use a centrifugal impeller to compress the air and force it into the engine. They are considered to be the most efficient type of supercharger and are often used in high-performance vehicles.

2. Roots superchargers: These superchargers use a pair of meshing lobes to compress the air and force it into the engine. They are considered to be the most durable type of supercharger and are often used in industrial and heavy-duty applications.

3. Screw-type superchargers: These superchargers use a pair of intermeshing screws to compress the air and force it into the engine. They are considered to be the most efficient type of positive-displacement supercharger and are often used in high-performance vehicles.

4. Turbochargers: A turbocharger is a type of forced induction system that uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine, which in turn powers a compressor to force more air into the engine.

5. Electric superchargers: Electric superchargers use an electric motor to compress the air and force it into the engine. They are considered to be the most efficient type of supercharger and are often used in high-performance vehicles.