Power Boost Devices Of The Automobiles Engine Turbocharger & Supercharger

 Power Boost Devices Of The Automobiles Engine

Turbocharger and Supercharger

Turbocharger and supercharger are both powers booster devices, which is act as air compressors used to increases oxygen flow into the engine through forced induction. The forcing additional air-fuel mixture or air in the engine cylinders means more air or allows more oxygen into the combustion chamber this combustion process creating a greater output of power so that an engine can produce more power at the same engine speed. As well as enhance the engine efficiency. This process is called the forces induction of the engines. By these forces, induction may produce 35 to 60% more power as compared to naturally aspirated petrol and diesel engines. 

The forced induction may be provided by a supercharger or by a turbocharger. These are types of air pumps or blowers that force more air-fuel mixture or air into the engine. Both are working as similarly but differently operates in the automobile engines. The supercharger and turbocharger differ in construction and operation on basic differences are in how they are driven. 

Supercharger

The process of supply the air-fuel mixture at a higher atmospheric pressure is called a supercharger. The supercharger is mechanically driven by a belt chain sometimes even gears also from the engine crankshaft. The supercharger is used quite heavier engines means that high-end variant luxury cars and racing bikes and cars. The supercharged engine produces more power up to 40 %. It also increases the torque by 40% at high altitudes and it helps by increasing the density of air fed to the engine. It increases the volumetric efficiency of the engine.

Turbocharger

A turbocharger is a centrifugal air pump driven by the engine exhaust gas that forces an additional amount of air or air-fuel mixture into the engine. This increase combustion pressure so that engine produces more power and torque through forced induction. The turbocharger improves the volumetric efficiency of the engine. The Indian auto industry usually turbochargers used on diesel engine vehicles. Nowadays in the auto market, there are optional choices for both petrol and diesel engines passenger car segment. Even turbochargers are available for 1. litre or 1.5 L, three-cylinder or four-cylinder petrol engines. There is no doubt turbocharger is a power booster device, it is used to enhance engine overall performance and optimize the combustion in the engines.

Construction and operation of the turbocharger

A turbocharger is consisting two main parts in a single unit. one turbine wheel blade with turbo housing or body part and compressor wheel blades. Turbine and compressor wheel blade fitted on the single shaft on both end sides. It is located in between of intake and exhaust manifold unit. When the engine is running, the exhaust gases flow and pass through the turbine they strike the blade of the turbine spinning it up to 120000 RPM (revolution per minute) or higher. The compressor mounts on the same shaft and therefore spin at the same speed. As the compressor spin, it pulls fresh air in a compress it and then force the compressed air out into the intake manifold. Gases from the engine exhaust manifold enter the turbine housing the push round the turbine wheel and run into the exhaust pipe. Inner shaft and bearings are required for lubrication by the engine lubrication system Intercooler used for a heat exchanger that cools the air The from supercharger or turbocharger before it enters the engine

One of the biggest issues with turbocharger performance is Turbo Lag. when engine low-speed throttle response hesitates, you feel or experience when driving turbo vehicles. There are not enough engine exhaust gases to spin up the turbo so that turbo is not proper spinning the turbine it means not the required amount of the exhaust gases so some lag is there on such condition is called turbo lag. 

Nowadays in new designs and advanced turbochargers are developed using modern vehicles or cars. Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) or sometimes is called  Variable turbine Geometry (VTG).  Variable geometry turbocharger is movable vanes are replaced for conventional fixed vanes which can change the angle to control to balance the volume of air with the fuel along with the entire engine load range. VGT device is improved to minimize turbo lag. The principle is to vary the angle at which the exhaust gas hits the turbine blade or vanes. This helps to increase boost at low speed and reduce turbo lag.No wastegate is needed with VGT. An actuator controlled by the ECU position the vanes at low engine speed and it provides a quicker engine boost. 

These are the main benefits of the Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT):

• Improved excellent engine response in the lower RPM range.
• Reduced fuel consumption
• Lower CO2, NOx emissions
• Allow rapid rise in boost pressure.
• Better towing capabilities. 
• More environment friendly.

Last few years some of the manufacturers developed Electric-turbo (E-turbo) technology which acts much precisely and delivers superior engine performance, fuel economy and emits lower emission levels.