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**Zues** · May 19th, 05:13 PM

I have recently started to look around the auto sub forum, and have learned a small bit about turbo, and super chargers.

I was thinking this afternoon about how all that these devices do is compress the air flowing into the cylinder which allows for more fuel to be used in combustion. I also know that a supercharger leeches power off the engine due to it being belt driven, and a turbocharger utilizes a lot of plumbing and air pathways.

Now I am sure that someone has had this idea before me, but I was just curious as to why I couldn't just get a small compressed air tank, and somehow compress the air going through the intake to about 10psi or maybe more (probably no more than 15psi). I am curious to see what would be some drawbacks to this idea, and some possible problems. So, will this work?

**PoisonMushroom** · May 19th, 08:47 PM

If you can find a pump that is efficient enough and powerful enough to move that much air even when the engine is IDLING, let me know. You have just begun to understand how forced induction works.

Think about this: an engine is basically a vacuum. When an engine is spinning at 6000 rpms, there is so much air going into the engine that it could easily suck up a small rodent. The reason super and turbochargers work is that they spin anywhere from 3-7 times FASTER than the engine. The faster it spins, the more boost (psi) produced. The propellers and blades of superchargers and turbochargers are designed to maximize the amount of air moved while keeping heat down. Putting a compressed air tank to feed the intake of the car would be like blowing into a vacuum cleaner. It would do nothing at all.

**Zues** · May 19th, 08:57 PM

Well I will definitely admit that I didn't think about that, and how about if I kept a small tank (a few cubic feet) of compressed air and dumped that into the engine with a switch or something?

After reading what you posted above I guess the air would have to be compressed far above what I wanted to put into the engine? to combat the vacuum affect?

Alpha · May 19th, 09:25 PM

Its a great idea and yes, you could get this to work, but you'd need to do a lot... for example you need to adjust the fuel to compensate for the extra air going in. Just flipping a switch wouldn't work. If you mean you flip the switch to add extra air into the intake and run the car normally without the switch activated, then the air from the compressor would just leak out of the air intake.

A better idea would be to use an oxygen tank. 99.9% of the toxic fumes (like NO2 and CO) emitted from your car are because your burning air. If you burn pure oxygen, your car would only produce water and CO2.

Have an oxygen tank somewhere in your vehicle, then run a hose going from it and into your air intake box. Oxygen is usually low pressure... Hook up an actuator valve somewhere along the line, and flip your switch (I'm more into buttons) when you want a boost... Oxygen is fed into the air intake, increasing your power and efficiency.

tippmanpb · May 19th, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zues

I kept a small tank (a few cubic feet) of compressed air and dumped that into the engine with a switch or something?

its like nitrous but with air!

**DaBluedevil** · May 19th, 10:46 PM

Its kind of like some of the concepts I've seen to try to minimize turbo lag.

**Zues** · May 19th, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tippmanpb

its like nitrous but with air!

ya! except for air is free

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpha

Its a great idea and yes, you could get this to work, but you'd need to do a lot... for example you need to adjust the fuel to compensate for the extra air going in. Just flipping a switch wouldn't work. If you mean you flip the switch to add extra air into the intake and run the car normally without the switch activated, then the air from the compressor would just leak out of the air intake.

A better idea would be to use an oxygen tank. 99.9% of the toxic fumes (like NO2 and CO) emitted from your car are because your burning air. If you burn pure oxygen, your car would only produce water and CO2.

Have an oxygen tank somewhere in your vehicle, then run a hose going from it and into your air intake box. Oxygen is usually low pressure... Hook up an actuator valve somewhere along the line, and flip your switch (I'm more into buttons) when you want a boost... Oxygen is fed into the air intake, increasing your power and efficiency.

Ya, I wasn't sure if the cars computer would have to be manually adjusted or not..

The oxygen idea is intriguing though.

***Dooms*** · May 20th, 02:53 AM

It would work, but only for a very short time. The volume and pressure required would mean you need a big tank running very high pressure. Nitrous Oxide does the same thing, but it's much better at it. First, nitrous oxide is much denser than normal air (so it doesn't require as much pressure and volume). Second, it cools the intake temperature, where normal air coming out of a bottle would get hot. Finally, it's safer since you only need a small bottle (at lower pressure).

Basically, it would work, but it combines the negatives of nitrous and forced induction, so it doesn't make any sense to use it. It's better in the long run just to go with one of the other more common methods.

....and yes, the car would have to be tuned to run the extra air. It would cause a lean condition at bare minimum. Detonation and a blown head gasket are other, more extreme, possibilities.

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