Superchargers

Superchargers

A supercharger is an air compressor used to increase the pressure, temperature, and density of air supplied to an internal combustion engine. This compressed air supplies a greater mass of oxygen per cycle of the engine to support combustion than available to a naturally aspirated engine, which makes it possible for more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle, which increases the power produced by the engine.

Power for the supercharger can be provided mechanically by a belt, gear, shaft, or chain connected to the engine's crankshaft. When power is provided by a turbine powered by exhaust gas, a supercharger is known as a turbosupercharger – typically referred to simply as a turbocharger or just turbo. Common usage restricts the term supercharger to mechanically driven units.