SUPERCHARGING

Supercharging -: Supercharging is the process of increasing the mass of air or density of air fuel mixture to the engine cylinder by compressing intake air initially with a view to obtain high power. This is usually done with the help of a compressor or blower.

                          Supercharging is used in I.C. engine to increase the volumetric efficiency. It is most common used in petrol engine. During supercharging the pressure of inlet air is increased above the atmospheric pressure by the supercharger. It can push high volume of air than the volume of air intaked by naturally aspirated engine of same capacity. 

                      Naturally aspirated engine have volumetric efficiency below the 90% but the supercharged engine the volumetric efficiency is above the 100 %.

                           Due to availability of higher oxygen during the combustion of fuel which ensure the better combustion of fuel . The advantage of supercharging is better combustion of fuel into the camber of cylinder. Due to this total power produced by the engine is also increased. There are two units used for increasing volumetric efficiency of engine , supercharger and turbocharger. The main difference in supercharger and turbocharger is that , supercharger is commonly used in petrol engine and turbocharger is commonly used in diesel engine. Turbocharger get the power from the exhaust gases of the engine to run the compressor through the turbine. In petrol engine combustion pressure is low so the energy of exhaust gas is also low as compare to diesel engine. For this reason turbocharger is not used in the petrol engine. 

        Supercharging is used generally at high altitude,  where density of atmospheric air is low . 

Concept of supercharging -: