Turbocharger vs Supercharger What's the Difference

forced induction is a GameChanger in the world of engines it's all about cramming more air into the combustion chamber this extra air allows for more fuel to be burned the result more power from the same engine size it's like giving your engine a shot of adrenaline there are two main types of forced induction turbochargers and superchargers both serve the same purpose they increase the density of air entering the engine but they go about it in very different ways understand understanding these differences is key for any Gear Head forced induction isn't just about raw power it's also about efficiency by squeezing more power out of smaller engines we can improve fuel economy this is why many modern cars use forced induction it's a way to meet stricter emission standards without sacrificing performance in this article we'll dive deep into turbochargers and superchargers we'll look at how they work their pros and cons and where they're used by the end you'll have a clear understanding of these fast fting Technologies let's get started turbochargers are ingenious devices they use the engine's own exhaust gases to boost power here's how it works as exhaust gases leave the engine they spin a turbine this turbine is connected to a compressor Wheel by a shaft as the turbine spins so does the compressor wheel the compressor wheel sits in the engine's intake track as it spins it draws in air and compresses it this this compressed air is then forced into the engine cylinders more air means more oxygen for combustion and more oxygen means more fuel can be burned the result is more power from each combustion cycle one key feature of turbochargers is the waste gate this is a valve that regulates boost pressure when the desired boost is reached the waste gate opens this allows some exhaust gas to bypass the turbine it prevents over boosting which could damage the engine turbochargers have come a long way since their invention modern Turbo use Advanced Materials like titanium aluminide these materials can withstand extreme temperatures they also allow for faster spool up times this reduces the dreaded turbo lag that plagued early turbo [Music] systems superchargers take a different approach to forced induction unlike turbos they don't rely on exhaust gases instead they're powered directly by the engine typically a belt connects the supercharger to the engine's crankshaft as the engine spins so does the supercharger there are three main types of superchargers Roots twin screw and centrifugal roots and twin screw types use meshing loes to Pump Air centrifugal superchargers use an impeller similar to a Turbo's compressor wheel all types compress air and force it into the engine one advantage of superchargers is instant response since they're directly driven by the engine there's no lag the moment you press the gas the supercharger is working this makes for very predictable power delivery it's why many drag racers prefer superchargers superchargers do have some drawbacks though they require power from the engine to operate this power called parasitic loss can be significant in some cases it can be up to 20% of the engine's total output however the net gain in power usually outweighs this loss turbochargers have several key advantages first and foremost is efficiency they use waste energy from exhaust gases this energy would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere by harnessing it turbos provide a free boost in power it's like getting something for nothing another big plus for turbos is their compact size they can be tucked away in tight engine Bays this makes them ideal for small efficient cars many modern economy cars use small turbocharged engines these engines provide the power of larger engines with better fuel economy turbochargers also offer great flexibility their boost can be easily controlled by the engine's computer this allows for different power levels in different situations at low speeds boost can be limited for better fuel economy at high speeds full Boost can be Unleashed for maximum power finally turbos can provide massive power gains in racing applications turbos can double or even triple an engine's output this is why turbos are so popular in Motorsports from Formula 1 to rally racing turbos dominate the high performance World section five turbocharger drawbacks despite their advantages turbochargers aren't perfect one of the biggest issues is Turbo lag this is the delay between pressing the gas and feeling the Boost it happens because the turbo needs time to spool up at low engine speeds there may not be enough exhaust flow to spin the turbo quickly heat is another challenge for turbos they operate at extremely high temperatures this can lead to reliability issues if not properly managed many turbocharged cars require more frequent oil changes some even need special cooldown procedures after hard driving complexity is another potential drawback turbo systems have many components there's the turbo itself plus intercoolers waste Gates and blowoff valves all these parts add weight and potential points of failure they also make engine repairs more complicated and expensive finally turbos can sometimes provide an unpredictable Driving Experience the Sudden Rush of power as the turbo spools up can be thrilling but it can also be challenging to control especially for inexperienced drivers this is why some purists prefer naturally aspirated [Music] engines section six supercharger benefits superchargers have their own set of advantages the most notable is instant throttle response there's no lag with a supercharger the moment you press the gas you get boost this makes for a very linear and predictable power delivery it's like having a much larger engine under the hood another benefit is Simplicity superchargers have fewer components than turbo systems there's no need for comp complex waste Gates or blowoff valves this can make supercharged engines more reliable in some cases it also makes them easier to work on and maintain superchargers also tend to produce a distinctive engine note many enthusiasts love the wine of a Roots type lower it adds to the overall Driving Experience this is why superchargers are popular in muscle cars and Hot Rods they provide both power and character finally superchargers can provide consistent power at all engine speeds unlike turbos they don't need to spool up this makes them great for applications that need reliable power throughout the Rev range tow vehicles and work trucks often benefit from superchargers for this [Music] reason section seven supercharger disadvantages the biggest drawback of superchargers is parasitic loss they require power from the engine to operate this power could otherwise be used for propulsion in some cases this loss can be significant heat is also a concern with superchargers compressing air generates heat to combat this many supercharged engines use an intercooler but this adds complexity and weight to the system superchargers can also be less efficient than turbos at high engine speeds at very high speeds the supercharger may actually become a restriction this is why some high- performance cars use a combination of supercharging and [Music] turbocharging Section 8 turbochargers in practice turbochargers have found their way into a wide range of vehicles I they're particularly popular in small efficient cars many manufacturers use turbos to downsize their engines for example Ford's EcoBoost engines use turbocharging to get V8 like power from V6 or even 4cylinder engines in the world of sports cars turbos are everywhere Porsche's 911 Turbo is a prime example it uses twin turbochargers to produce massive power from a relatively small engine even Ferrari long known for high revving naturally aspirated engines has embed race turbocharging in models like the 488 GTB turbos are also dominant in diesel engines the high compression ratios of diesel engines work well with turbocharging almost all modern diesel cars and trucks use turbochargers they provide the low-end torque that diesels are known for while improving efficiency in Motorsports turbocharging is ubiquitous Formula 1 cars use highly Advanced turbocharged hybrid powertrains in rally racing turbos help engines cope with varying altitudes even in Drag Racing where superchargers once ruled turbochargers are becoming more common section 9's superchargers in real world applications superchargers have a strong presence in certain niches they're particularly popular in American Muscle Cars the Dodge Challenger Hellcat uses a massive supercharger to produce over 700 horsepower in off-road vehicles superchargers are often preferred the instant boost is useful for crawling over obstacles Toyota's TRD offers Supercharger kits for trucks and SUVs many companies offer bolt-on Supercharger kits for a wide range of vehicles in high-end luxury cars superchargers provide smooth power delivery expert opinions and Enthusiast insights car enthusiasts and experts often have strong opinions on the turbo versus supercharger debate John Hennessy says turbos are great for efficiency but nothing beats the instant response of a supercharger many Modern Performance car enthusiasts praise turbos it's like being shot out of a cannon Chris Harris offers a balanced view both have their place ultimately the choice depends on the [Music] application choosing between turbo and supercharging there's no one siiz fits-all answer it depends on the specific application and goals turbocharging often has the edge for efficiency and high-end power supercharging is the choice for instant response and simplicity ideal for classic muscle cars or off-road rigs sometimes a combination of both is best twin charging provides instant response and high-end power ultimately it comes down to your specific needs and preferences

Channel: science and tech explorations

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Id: GeoG4egM9sA

Length: 10min 8sec (608 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 06 2024