New supercharging devices are already showing much promise in developing added power increases as well as emiting less polution through the engine.
However, while this technology develops, turbocharging will be the mainstay for the next few years. More about this exciting technology later.

   There are two configurations of superchargers on the market today. The positive-displacement "Roots Type " blower and the centrifugal blower.Both have a proven track record for producing massive power gains as well as durability.
However, the designs differ in the amount of airflow that is produced.
   The supercharger of choice for today's Tuner is the " Roots Type" blower made by Eaton Corp. This blower is the positive displacement type which produces the same amount of airflow no matter what the engine speed. The boost level starts just over idle and maintains the set amount through-out the rev range of the engine. Different size pulleys can be used to control the amount of airflow emitted through the supercharger. One can expect to see an average of 40% added power increases with the Eaton Blower.

   The Centrifugal blowers of today are mostly found in supercharged Mustang pony cars. First developed by McCullough and now belonging to the Paxton Corp. these blowers vary the amount of airflow produced. Starting with a gradual boost level and then building to maximum levels near redline. The power that the centrifugal blower can produce rivals turbochargers.

   The Modern supercharger is quiet different than the turbocharger in the way that boost is produced, and in the way that the fan of the turbine and the blower are driven. A supercharger's rotor is driven off a belt and pulley system powered by the engine itself. Superchargers create a parasitic drag off the engine. Whereas the turbo uses wasted exhaust gas pressure to power the turbine. turbochargers spin a turbine and with faster moving blades the turbine compresses the air.
A supercharger pumps air into the intake manifold, and this produces the charged air. With each rotation of the rotor a corresponding amount of air gets rammed into the manifold. The fans of the superchargers are like rotors with curved vanes. It is these vanes that pull the air from the air intake and then force it into the intake manifold. When the intake valves open this charged air in-turn forces its way into the combustion chamber. With the addition of more air and additional fuel the combustion stroke of the engine is more powerfull, hence more horse power.
  
Obviously, the intake manifolds are very important factors for producing power with superchargers. The cleanest less turbulant intake manifold is especially important in getting the charged air into the combustion chamber. Recent advances in manufacturing have helped this area, however the small engine compartments of todays Honda / Acura cars are a big problem. Too little space with which to design, places constraints on airflow through the supercharged intake manifold. There are new manufacturers that are currently working to solve this airflow problem.

   Mainly, there is one manufacturer who produces superchargers for the Honda/Acura tuner. The Eaton company makes 4 different sizes of blowers for the aftermarket automobile industry. In fact it is the Eaton blower which was engineered in 1989 that we see today.


However, there is a lot of new interest in supercharging, and this will revolutionize the Tuning world. Reputable Tuners are taking the Eaton blowers and re-engineering them to be much more efficent. Also these same Tuners have shown enormous power gains using superchargers.

Street Tuners is currently working on an article that will feature a newly re-designed blower.
   Not to be one to sit by, "The Garrett Corp." has been developing a new breed supercharger that is powered not by a belt drive, but instead the blower is spun with Hydraulic pressure. First developed for the diesel motor, Garrett is now developing this radically different device for the high performance automobile market. Remember that Garrett is the worlds leader in turbocharger manufacturing. Garrett has stated in press releases that turbocharging will soon fall to the way-side and be replaced by the modern supercharger. Big words, but coming from Garrett you can believe the future does not involve turbos. That's not to say it will happen overnight, but the new breed supercharger is coming on strong. Superchargers have worked their magic with old technology for the last decade. Now we are seeing a new aggressive engineering program to re-establish the superchargers worth.
As of the present "Garrett Corp."
has sold this new Hydra - Charger back to the original inventor, and we look forward to researching this new technology Supercharger.

 More to come !