Types of superchargers

1slow370

No hard feelings guy but much of the earlier response is wrong

centrifugal's are not positive displacement guy they are a dynamic supercharger meaning that they flow different amounts of air compared to engine rpm. Positive displacement superchargers pump the same amount of air relative to engine rpm (almost). Positive displacemnts are generally preferred as the power and torque produced is made at nearly the same time as the power and torque curves were before supercharging so it feels more linear.

Centrifugal's produce almost no power in the lower rpms but it steadily builds creating a take-off feeling compared to the instant bang of pos. displacement. Centrifugal superchargers are generally cheaper than a twin screw but more expensive than a roots.

Centrifugal: Vortech, Rotrex, Paxton, Procharger

Twin-screw:Whipple, Vortech VTS, Eaton made OEM Lysholm, Kenne Bell

Roots:Weiand, Magna-charger(resells Eaton chargers for the aftermarket including the Eaton Twin Vortices Series or TVS, Eaton made OEM

There are other types of superchargers mainly used by volkswagen but they suck and are expensive so hell if i am mentioning them.

Edit: As to why twin-screw and roots are not the same they have totally different types of rotors inside them and while a twin screw actually compresses the air inside it like a piston a roots blower just pushes it into the manifold where it jams up against the valves and makes pressure there.

Positive displacement is like putting in a big v8, where as centrifugals are like high horse power 4 cylinders- they make power higher in the driving range.

2fast4thelaw

None taken, i gave it my best shot from what I learned on this site. I appreciate the correction the new light shed on the subject.

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To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

1slow370

Aight. I've had a supercharger addiction for almost a decade now so it happens.

2fast4thelaw

I am about to have one this summer I will most likely choose one of the three: Stillen, HKS, GTM. I want the new traction drive Centrifugal supercharger. I have a feeling this is the route Stillen will be choosing. The twin screw is a no go from everything I have read.

__________________
To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

1slow370

a twin-screw is a great unit with higher a/e and v/e then most centrifugals but the damn vvel screwed it up. Would require an extra throttle body be mounted in the car. Centrfugal would be cheap and easy on our cars but i hate the way they provide boost. A good whipple or kenne bell twin screw would have done it for me seeing as they have a unit sized for 500-850hp.

2fast4thelaw

I am not looking for gigantic gains my car is already fast. I would be happy with 100 rwhp boost with potential for 150 rwhp. i am most concerened with the unit delivering boost safely, reliably and not nickel and diming me constantly. I am thinking the centrifugal units are going to fit best with the least amount of modification. They may not be the most efficient and optimal performing units but thier better than nothing at all.

__________________
To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.