Forced Induction

Forced induction is a term used to describe the process of compressing, or forcing air into an internal combustion engine. In the process of forced induction, a gas compressor is added to the air intake, thereby increasing the quantity of air, and ultimately oxygen, available for combustion. This compressed air is normally referred to as Boost. An internal combustion engine without forced induction is considered naturally aspirated.

Introduction

Forced induction is used to improve the power, efficiency, and emissions without much extra weight and minimal modifications to the engine architecture. Two of the commonly used forced induction technologies are turbochargers and superchargers. Since only so much energy can be had from a given amount of gasoline, the faster gasoline can be burned in the cylinder, the more power can be produced. An engine can only take in so much when breathing air at atmospheric pressures, since the capacity and number of cylinders is non-variable. The only way to get more air into the cylinder, and therefore produce more power, is to increase the pressure at the intake.

One of the primary concerns in internal combustion emissions is a factor called the NOx fraction, or the amount of nitrogen/oxygen compounds the engine produces. High combustion temperatures lead to a lower NOx fraction, and since gasses heat when compressed, the more gas is compressed in a given volume, the hotter it will get, and the lower the NOx fraction will be. Forced induction increases the amount of gas being compressed, and it increases the heat generated when compression occurs. Since colder air is denser, it is most desirable, from a power standpoint, to have cold air coming in, but better from an emissions standpoint if the air is hot.

Comparison

Strengths and weaknesses vary according to the method of forcing induction largely based upon the inherent design functions of both. A turbocharger acts as an obstacle to exhaust gases due to its placement in the exhaust system tract. A supercharger uses torque generated from the rotational mass internal to the engine through the crank pulley. A turbo relies on the volume and velocity of exhaust gases to spool, or spin the turbine wheel. The turbine wheel is connected to the compressor wheel via a common shaft. The compressor wheel compresses the intake charge increasing the charge density by a large factor.

The amount of time that it takes a turbocharger to reach the onset of boost is referred to as lag. A supercharger is 'on' all of the time, meaning that it is capable of producing a linear increase of boost up until redline. It is easier to target a desired boost with a turbocharger as there are many forms of boost controllers that allow a user to adjust to desired boost fairly easily. In order to achieve desired boost with a supercharger, a larger or smaller pulley must be installed.

Because a supercharger pump is driven by a pulley on the engine, the supercharger charge pressure is linearly proportionate to engine RPM. In other words, at 1/2 of peak RPM, a traditional supercharger only produces half of its peak boost. On the contrary, a turbocharger can be set up to produce near-peak boost levels at lower RPMs, which produces considerably more torque in an application. Emerging supercharger technologies are using techniques such as allowing internal viscosity to control a maximum pump output. This is advantageous because the supercharger can be set to reach peak boost at the onset of slip. Therefore, the linear power increase happens sooner, and the supercharger can be set to boost at higher pressure levels throughout the entire engine speed range. At present, however, for a given size, a turbocharger can usually be set to produce more power under the curve than an equivalent supercharger, but superchargers do not suffer from boost lag.

Intercooling

Main article: Intercooler

An unavoidable side-effect of forced induction is that compressing air raises its temperature (see also Combined gas law). As a result, the charge density is reduced and the cylinders receive less fresh air than the system’s boost pressure prescribes. The risk of detonation, or "knock" in internal combustion engines greatly increases. These drawbacks are countered by charge-air cooling, which passes the air leaving the turbocharger or supercharger through a heat exchanger typically called an intercooler. This is done by cooling the charge air with an ambient flow of either air (air-air intercoolers) or liquid (liquid to air intercoolers). The charge air density is increased and the temperature is reduced.

Water Injection

Main article: Water injection (engines)

Water injection is another effective means of cooling the charge air to prevent detonation. Methanol is mixed with the water to prevent freezing and to act as a slower-burning fuel. Water injection, unlike nitrous oxide or forced induction itself, doesn't add more oxygen to the charge, but absorbs heat as it evaporates to cool the charge and lower combustion temperatures. The alcohol is also a fuel in the charge which burns slower and cooler than gasoline. Due to the lower intake temperatures and denser air charge more power is exerted from the engine. Water injection is typically used in conjunction with low-octane fuel in order to run higher than normal manifold pressures.

Diesel engines

Main article: Diesel engines

Diesel engines do not have preignition problems because fuel is injected at the end of the compression stroke. Therefore higher boost pressures can be used.

See also

• Supercharger
• Turbocharger
• Internal combustion engine
• Diesel engine

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