power blowers

A supercharger (also known as a blower) is an air compressor used to force more air (and hence oxygen) into the combustion chamber(s) of an internal combustion engine than can be achieved with just normal atmospheric pressure. Any device which does this is a supercharger.

The additional mass of oxygen-containing air that is forced into the engine improves its volumetric efficiency which allows it to burn more fuel - which in turn makes it produce more power. A supercharger can be powered mechanically by belt-, gear- or chain-drive from the engine's crankshaft. It can also be driven by a gas turbine powered by the exhaust gasses from the engine. Turbine-driven superchargers are correctly referred to as turbo-superchargers - or more commonly as turbochargers. Home Consumer Reports - Power Blowers.

Types of Supercharger

There are two main types of supercharger defined according to the method of compression. Positive displacement and dynamic compressors.

Positive displacement