Turbocharging and

Supercharging
Supercharging
An engine that uses normal vacuum to draw in air (air-fuel mixture) is called
normally aspirated (not supercharged). Use of supercharger to deliver an air
or an air-fuel mixture to the engine cylinder at a pressure higher than
atmospheric is called supercharging.

Normally aspirated Supercharged

The amount of air pressurization above the ambient (atmospheric) pressure

that a supercharger can deliver is called boost.
2
Consider the analytical relation for the brake power (Pb) of an engine.
F
Pb   m c i ,th  v   a   QLHV  n  Vs  z
A
This shows that one of the parameters which affects the engine brake power
is air density (a). This means the brake power of an engine can be
increased by increasing the air density.
If the inducted air is compressed to a higher density than ambient prior to
entry into the engine cylinder, the maximum power of an engine of a fixed
dimensions can deliver will be increased. This is the primary purpose of
supercharging.
Supercharging can be of:
1. Turbocharging.
2. Mechanical supercharging.
3. Engine-driven compressor and turbocharger.
4. Two-stage turbocharging.
5. Turbocharging with turbocomponding.
6. Turbocharger with intercooler,…

3
The term supercharger usually applies to an air pressurizing pump which is
driven mechanically by the engine crankshaft through gears or belts or
chains and shafts. These mechanical linkages consume a lot of power from
the engine. AS a result, these types of superchargers are not popular for
passenger car engines.

The term turbocharger applies to a

supercharging device that uses exhaust
gas to turn or drive a turbine to force
more air into the engine cylinder through
a compressor attached to it by a shaft as
shown in the figure.
Turbocharers are widely used in CI
engines than SI engines.
Note:- The shaft of a tupercharger spins
at a speeds of about 50000 to 90000
rpm.

Peer discussion:- Explain the principle of operation of a turbocharger. 4

Advantages of a turbocharger
• Higher volumetric efficiency (more than
100%) can be obtained. This increases
the torque and power output of the
engine.
• Since the increase in power is as high
as 60%, the engine is smaller and
lighter than the same engine without a
turbocharger (a normally aspirated
engine).
• Fuel consumption is improved by about
10%.
• Exhaust noise is reduced due to the
smoothing out of the exhaust
pulsations.
• Utilization of the energy content
(enthalpy) of exhaust gas. Performance curves for a turbocharged CI
(Diesel) engine. Broken lines represent
One of the disadvantage of a turbocharger is,
a normally aspirated engine.
additional cost and more components.
5
As shown in the figure,
exhaust gas leaving the
engine cylinder strikes
and drives the gas
turbine (GT). This
rotational motion of the
turbine is transmitted to
the compressor (C)
through the shaft. As a
result, the compressor
(C) compresses the
incoming air from p1,T1
to p2,T2.
An intercooler (I) is
used to reduce the
temperature in order to
minimize the drop in
density.

6
Mechanical Supercharger versus Turbocharger

Group discussion:- What is the main difference between the two types of superchargers ?

As it has already been discussed, turbochargers use the energy of exhaust

gas to drive the compressor whereas mechanical superchargers extract
power from the engine to drive the compressor.