Pete Mitchell

A supercharger is a reasonably straightforward addition that can substantially increase the power output of a naturally-aspirated engine. In this guide, we’ll cover the fundamental principles of a supercharger system, the multiple types available, and which is best for your requirements. 

Understanding Supercharged Engines and Systems

An internal combustion engine needs air and fuel to produce power. Simply put, a supercharger compresses intake air, allowing more to enter the engine and enabling it to make more power. Unlike a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases, a supercharger relies on a belt, driven by the engine crankshaft. 

A supercharger comprises internal rotors connected to the engine crank by a belt. When the engine is running, the rotors spin at extremely high speeds, drawing in more air and compressing it into the intake manifold. The higher oxygen concentration can then be supplied with more fuel than usual, resulting in a more powerful combustion process. 

What Are the Different Supercharged Systems To Choose From?

Superchargers can be classified into three different types based on their design. While the working principle is the same, each comes with its pros and cons, which will help you decide which type you should pick. 

Roots Supercharger

The Roots-type supercharger is the oldest supercharger technology and gets its name from the Roots brothers, who patented the basic design in 1860. These superchargers typically come with a two-lobe rotor design. The rotors rotate away from each other, forcing more air into the intake manifold and increasing pressure. Roots-type superchargers are known for their low-end torque, making them a popular choice in racing. The downside is that they increase heat production and reduce efficiency. 

Twin-Screw Supercharger

A twin-screw supercharger has a similar design to a Roots supercharger. The primary difference is that the interlocking rotors compress the air that is forced through them, unlike the Roots supercharger, which creates positive pressure in the intake manifold. These superchargers produced a notable increase of power from idle, making them a go-to option for heavier vehicles that require bottom-end torque. They also make less heat than a Roots-type system. However, like a Roots-type supercharger, a twin-screw unit does put a lot of additional load on the engine, adversely affecting efficiency. 

If you want to extract maximum performance from the lower end of your rev band, a Roots-type or twin-screw supercharger makes the most sense. 

Centrifugal Supercharger

A centrifugal supercharger is the most common system you’ll find on modern-day street cars. These units feature a belt-driven impeller that draws air into the supercharger housing. The air is then pressurized by centrifugal force, after which it’s sent to the intake manifold. Centrifugal superchargers are extremely popular since there are several compressor sizes and pulley diameters that you can pick from to fine-tune the performance that you need. 

The amount of boost a centrifugal supercharger produces is proportional to engine RPM. This translates to a linear power band requiring you to keep the engine at higher revs to extract maximum performance. This makes them an excellent choice for cars that will spend most of their time on public roads. 

Most Popular Supercharger Kits

• Vortech Ford Superchargers

• ProCharger Dodge Ram 5.7L Hemi Supercharger Kits

• ProCharger Chevy Camaro SS LT1 Supercharger Kits

• Edelbrock E-Force 122 Small Block Chevy Supercharger Kits

Make Sure You Understand Your Warranties

Broadly speaking, there are two warranties that you must take into consideration before purchasing a supercharger for your car. The first is of your vehicle itself, while the other is of the supercharger system you purchase. Adding a supercharger to your car will most likely void its warranty since most manufacturers don’t condone aftermarket modifications. But, if you’re modding an older car that isn’t covered by a manufacturer warranty anymore, this isn’t something you’ll have to worry about. 

What you should look into is the warranty that the supercharger comes with. Trusted brands like Edelbrock and Vortech come with warranties, and some of them also offer you the option to purchase an extended warranty. Considering the costs of a supercharger system, ensuring your purchase is covered makes sense. 

Think About the Cost and Installation 

You should never compromise on the quality of a supercharger kit for your car. A cheap, substandard unit can damage the engine and other elements of the powertrain, leaving you with quite the repair bill. 

There are several supercharger kits out there, and depending on the make and model of your vehicle, you might be able to find one that’s specifically designed to be a direct fit. Supercharger kits come with everything you’ll need to get the installation done, ranging from around $2,500 to upwards of $10,000. 

Superchargers from reputable brands should also tell you exactly what to expect regarding added boost and maximum power. 

Installing a supercharger may require assistance from a technician, depending on your mechanical know-how. The cost of this can vary based on where you’re located and the technician to go to, so it’s best you make some calls before narrowing down on who will do the job for you. 

How to Maintain a Supercharged Car

The job of maintaining a car with a supercharger is effectively the same as that of any other naturally-aspirated car. However, the cost of damage will be higher if something were to go wrong since more parts are involved. One essential step to ensure that you don’t cause severe damage down the line is to ensure that the engine always has adequate oil. A supercharger will cause additional load and strain on the machine, so it mustn’t be starved of oil. 

You can also opt to install a high-performance air filter and make sure that it’s cleaned periodically. Since a supercharger enables increased airflow, you will have to clean the air filter more often and ensure that it doesn’t get clogged. 

Lastly, your car will also benefit from an upgraded cooling system. As mentioned above, superchargers will increase the heat produced by the engine. That’s why most supercharger installations are accompanied by the addition of an intercooler. You can also opt to add a more precise temperature gauge to better monitor engine temperature. 

Once all of this is in place, you should be able to effortlessly enjoy the added performance you now have at your disposal without worrying about your car. 

Shopping for a supercharger for your street or race car? Check out what JEGS has to offer. Not only will you find kits from the top brands in the market, but our experts can advise you on the right fit for your project.

There are two general principles in air compression, namely: dynamic compression and  displacement compression. The latter covers a long list of compressor tools, among which includes a root blower. In this article, we break down everything you need to know about this apparatus.

What is a Roots Blower?

A roots blowerroots blower is a household name in various industries. It is characterized as a positive displacement lobe pump that is generally used to produce consistent air compressions. It works by pumping fluids using a pair of meshing lobes and is usually air-cooled and oil-free.

Types and Uses of Roots Blower

There are at least three types of roots blower, with each depending on the number of lobes fitted inside the equipment. These include:

• Twin Lobe Roots Blower

• Tri-Lobe Roots Blower

• Four Lobe Roots Blower

A blower is your best tool for industries and applications that require constant air flow at varying discharge pressure. It can be used as an air or fluid pump, where it will move air without compressing it. The use of blowers is a boon in many industries and processes, including but not limited to:

• Agriculture

• Construction

• Food Processing

• Packaging

• Water Treatment

• Aeration Dehydration

• Central Vacuum Cleaning

• Pneumatic Conveying

How to Choose the Right Roots Blower

There are different brands of blowers available in the market today. But, how exactly do you find the one that is right for your industry and needs? To help you, here are some factors you should know when weighing up your options:

Volume Flow and Pressure: Firstly, you need to measure the required amount of pressure and volume of your system to assess which blower will deliver your requirement at the lowest power consumption possible.

Performance Rating: Secondly, you also need to weigh in their ratings which are primarily influenced by the following factors: speed, noise, heat and durability.

Cost: Finally, for choosing the ideal roots blower for your system, you also need to factor in the price of the equipment as well as its maintenance costs. Still, you have to keep in mind that the cheapest is not always the best choice.

Your Best Bets on Roots Blowers

Greatech Roots Blower

This tri-lobe roots blower has a capacity of up to 280m3 per minute and power of up to 260kw. Its main selling point is its stable airflow, extremely low vibration and oil-free operation.

Airus Roots Type Blower

This roots blower is produced by one of the leading manufacturers in the globe that has a whopping capacity of 1,200m3 per minute and power of up to 1000 kw. It is ideal for applications such as water treatment and crushed limestone conveying.

Chuan Fan Centrifugal Blower

This blower uses rotating impellers to increase the speed of an air stream. It has a capacity of up to 53m3 per minute and is characterized by its heat-resistant turbo blower and suction temperature of 180 °C.

If you need to know more about your best roots blower options, Compresstech, a leading supplier of air compressor and compressed air tools in the Philippines, will be happy to guide you through the process. Visit our website or talk to one of our experts today!

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