Electric Supercharger?! (adaptable for fuel economy?)

[ConnClark]

The ultimate leaf blower test video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U81_0waqEWA

[Cobb]

Why must these videos be longer than 6 seconds?

I think NOS is just a better way to go to add more power on the go. You can get a system as small as 25 hp boost and even then you can tune it down lower.

You can get a dry or wet kit and the wet kit you can tap a fuel rail nipple for gas. Im tempted to get the kit for the hch myself.

[freebeard]

Nitromethane - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[graver555]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Nitromethane - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2 thoughts immediatly jump to mind.

A. we could use a weedwacker engine to cruise down the highway with this stuff if we dont mind occasional explosions.

B. Nitro + engine powered blender = fastest margaritas EVER

[freebeard]

If you don't mind occasional explosions, contemplate the Turbonique:

iowahawk: The Real Acme

At the mild end of the Turbonique product line were its AP (for "Auxiliary Power") superchargers, so named because they had their own power supply. Unlike regular superchargers (driven by a crank pulley belt) or turbos (driven by exhaust pressure), Turbonique AP superchargers operated independently of the engine and scavenged no power from it. They appeared to be a spiral turbo with a spark plug, and were engaged with a dash-mounted switch - a sort of prehistoric Nitrous setup. When the driver threw the switch, the supercharger unit would receive liquid oxygen for ignition, and then it was fed a rocket fuel named Thermolene -Turbonique's trade name for N-propyl nitrate. The exhaust thrust from combustion would spin a turbine impeller up to 100,000 RPM, ramming the engine with such intense boost that it essentially turned it into a giant two-stroke. Turbonique dyno-tested an AP unit on new Chevy 409 in 1963, increasing horsepower from a stock 405 to 835 -- backing up their advertised guarantee to "double your horsepower" -- although it came with a recommendation not to run the unit for more than 5 minutes and only with forged cranks, pistons and connecting rods.

Emphasis mine, it's worth the read. Also Turbonique News, Videos, Reviews and Gossip - Jalopnik

[niky]

Okay, I knew about the turbo-axle... but this... this is absolutely ridiculous!

[freebeard]

For the record niky is talking about this:



The progression went: auxiliary power for the supercharger —power to the differential — pure thrust.

Ecomod this?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by pete c

Turbo chargers are pertty much a no-brainer for diesels. I could see some sort of electric supercharger working for brief periods. I could also see it being used as a means of recovering energy during braking.

Increasing the effectiveness of engine-braking would be another advantage in a, let's say, "hybridized" turbocharger coupled to a starter-generator to overcome turbo-lag and recover energy. Coupling would be similar to what is used in the generator of modern jet-powered airliners.

Originally Posted by niky

Cheaper? Debatable. But at least not using variable geometry on the main turbo makes it more robust. Variable geometry turbos are finicky things, and more vulnerable to coking and hydraulic oil-feed failures than many people are comfortable with.

Sometimes, even the regular fixed-geometry turbochargers get under scrutiny for durability and ease of maintenance issues.

I'd have thought a simple supercharger for twin-charging would be better... but having a standalone electric supercharger would make for much simpler plumbing and installation than twin-charging.

I don't understand how an all-electric supercharger would be easier to do the plumbing, even though it wouldn't require a mechanical drive.

[Fingie]

Audi is currently bringing forward a electric turbo

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Fingie

Audi is currently bringing forward a electric turbo

But it's basically meant to supplement the regular exhaust-driven turbo at start-ups in order to overcome turbo-lag, and IIRC it didn't have any energy-recovery feature.