What does a Turbocharger do
The purpose of a Turbo or Supercharger is to increase power in an internal combustion engine. Otherwise know an forced induction they were developed for aeronautical use. Forced induction on a airplane with a propeller engine would allow it to go faster because it creates more power but also allow it to climb to higher altitude. On an internal combustion engine the vacuum created in the cylinder would only allow one atmosphere or air pressure to enter the combustion chamber (14.7lbs per square inch), during high altitudes were air pressure is much less air planes would lose power but using a turbo or supercharger it would force more air in perhaps two or three atmospheres worth of pressure allowing for more power and altitude, during times such as WWII when fighter did not have in cockpit radar if you were able to climb faster and higher you then can swoop down on your enemy like a vulture and tear them apart.In todays automotive applications forced induction is used to generate more power by increasing the air pressure into the combustion chamber, add proper fuel mixture and you can safely increase power output by 50-60%. The reason, why bother you may ask. An engine using forced induction can run a low compression ratio IE. 8.4:1 needing very little fuel which means better gas mileage. During acceleration the turbo or supercharger can increase the compression to 12:1, being that both turbo and superchargers have a compressor by-pass valve when the vehicle is cruising it runs at the low compression ratio using less fuel. In 2007 Ford Motor Company introduced a specialty version of the Mustang called the Shelby GT500, this particular Mustang has a 5.4L DOHC V-8 engine with a roots type supercharger, the vehicle has a horsepower output of 500, imagine 500 horsepower at your disposal, that is an insane amount of power. This roots type supercharger is mounted on top of the motor, behind it is a boost by-pass valve so even at 500HP this vehicle get 18mpg and during a long term road test by Car & Driver magazine it did get an average of 18mpg during a cross country run including cruising on highways and when being road tested at race tracks.Turbo and Superchargers do not get much use today, airplanes have jet engines now created thousands of pounds of thrust, passenger vehicles rarely use them with the advances is intake and exhaust flow designs, variable camshaft timing, lighter frames has almost eliminated the need for forced induction in passenger vehicles. The only vehicles where forced induction is still common is commercial vehicles. being they are heavy duty carrying loads in the hundreds of pounds forced induction is used to double and triple the torque (work output) of these diesel engines and still retain some kind of fuel efficiency when cruising.
