Monday, March 25, 2024

Why is a diesel engine using a turbocharger instead of a supercharger?



The reason is quite simple: superchargers use or consume engine power while operating, and because diesel engines usually don't produce much power, installing superchargers is not popular, especially for diesel engines with a low load range or RPM.

On the other hand, a turbocharger utilizes waste energy from exhaust gases to drive a turbine, which then powers a compressor to increase the intake air pressure. This process is driven by the engine's exhaust gases, resulting in improved fuel efficiency compared to a supercharger, which is typically driven mechanically by the engine via a belt.


Because diesel engines are usually used in applications that require high torque and load-carrying capacity, they require a higher boost at high RPMs, and turbochargers are more suited to this use because they provide a greater boost at higher engine speeds and can handle higher air flow rates, while the supercharger tends to be more effective at lower engine speeds and may struggle to deliver sufficient airflow for heavy loads.

The latter may be due to size; turbochargers are more compact and do not take up space, while superchargers are usually large and take up space, so their use is less preferred in large-engined vehicles such as trucks or other vehicles, so their use is rarely found in diesel engines.

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