Difference between Supercharger & Turbochargers?
 

Forgive me for sounding like a complete idiot, but what is the difference between a super charger and a turbo charger?

Re: Difference between Supercharger & Turbochargers?
 

Both do pretty much the same thing - they both feed more air into the engine with a compressor. But they do it in slightly different ways, which lead to different characteristics.

Superchargers are typically mechanically driven by the engine, for instance a belt. Being tied to engine speed, they're very linear and don't suffer the 'lag' that turbos do.

Turbochargers are spun by sticking a turbine in the exhaust gases. That turbine spins a compressor which force-feeds the engine. They suffer a little 'lag,' because they're not directly tied to engine speed. But then they're not limited by it, either.

Edit: Here's an article on the differences between the two:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question122.htm

The only stupid question is the one never asked.;)

Re: Re: Difference between Supercharger & Turbochargers?
 

Nice going stock boy II! :D

One type of supercharger, the centrifugal, can suffer from lag (compared to the Roots and twin-screw types) and is not linear in its displacement versus RPM.

Todd

Re: Re: Re: Difference between Supercharger & Turbochargers?
 

II?

Centrifugal V positive displacement.
 

Just to add to Mr Pockets answer.

The centrifugal type blowers, either belt or turbine driven, were designed for constant speed engines, about 2000 rpm variation max.

Truck or plant diesel engines, aircraft or boat engines, that run at a constant engine speed. They are most effective in this role, but are out of there range if the engine speed varies too much, as an auto does. They can pump more pressure than a positive displacement blower, but at a higher RPMs.

The positive displacement blower, such as Roots and the screw type, are more suited to the wide speed range of the auto engine, that can be as much as 5000 rpm. This type can pump to about 14 psi, not as much as the centrifugal but it can do from idle, right through to peak RPMs.

When used on a auto engine the PD type will produce a wide flat torque curve. The centrifugal, will produce a peakier torque curve, that is more to the top end of the rpm range. This usually needs more gears to spread the torque across the operational range.

Harvey.;)