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Car tech guide: How super- and turbochargers work

<B>INCREASED POWER:</B> These excellent animations explain how turbo and superchargers work. <I>Image: Tyroola</I>
<B>INCREASED POWER:</B> These excellent animations explain how turbo and superchargers work. <I>Image: Tyroola</I>
Tyroola

Cape Town - Have you always wondered what the difference between a super- and turbocharger is?

The folks over at Tyroola produced excellent 3D animations explaining how each of these power-boosting devices work.

What are they?

In short, both devices send more air into the engine, which translates into more power for your vehicle.

Brief explanation of both these power-increasing devices:

How the turbo works

A turbocharger is a turbine-driven, forced-induction device that increases an engine's efficiency and power output by forcing more air into the combustion chamber.

This allows for more power compared to a naturally aspirated engine because the compressor can force more air (and more fuel) into the combustion chamber.

A turbocharger is designed to improve an engine's efficiency by increasing density of the intake gas (usually air), allowing for increased power. A turbocharger can also increase fuel efficiency.

Click on the gif below for a more detailed look at a turbocharger:

How a supercharger works:

A supercharger is an air compressor that increases the pressure or density of air supplied to an engine. This provides more oxygen during each intake cycle as well as more fuel to be burned, increasing power.

Power for the supercharger can be provided mechanically by means of a belt, gear, shaft, or chain connected to the engine's crankshaft.

Click on the gif below for a more detailed look a supercharger in action:

For more detailed information, visit Tyroola by clicking here.

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