The inertial supercharging effect is the increase of volumetric efficiency in the cylinder of an engine.

Background

The

internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal c ...

is the most common engine found in mechanical devices across the world. The engine is powered by an air/gasoline mixture and the physics principles of heat and pressure.

Overview

Inertial supercharging effect is the result of incoming fuel/air charge developing momentum greater than

intake stroke In the context of an internal combustion engine, the term stroke has the following related meanings: * A phase of the engine's cycle (e.g. compression stroke, exhaust stroke), during which the piston travels from top to bottom or vice versa. * Th ...

would generate alone. It is achieved by the careful design of the shape of the piston head, the valves and cam profile/

valve timing In a piston engine, the valve timing is the precise timing of the opening and closing of the valves. In an internal combustion engine those are usually poppet valves and in a steam engine they are usually slide valves or piston valves. Internal ...

which creates a vacuum that pulls more exhaust gases (and some of the intake gasses) out of the engine. This is immediately followed by a reflected pressure wave timed to force the extra intake gasses back into the cylinder, thus achieving a greater mass of air/fuel mix in the

combustion chamber A combustion chamber is part of an internal combustion engine in which the fuel/air mix is burned. For steam engines, the term has also been used for an extension of the firebox which is used to allow a more complete combustion process. Intern ...

than possible with conventional methods. Expansion chambers only work well at a narrow engine speed range which is why two stroke engines are referred to as having a "powerband". Since the early 1980s exhaust powervalves have been developed which have the effect of altering the timing and/or volume of the expansion chamber, greatly improving the spread of power of high output two stroke engines. The idea behind this effect is that if more pressure is created within the cylinder, the faster the piston will be able to move. The volumetric efficiency is maximized to increase the amount of air/fuel mixture in the cylinder during each cycle. In turn, a greater air/fuel mixture in a cylinder will create a greater pressure therefore exerting a greater force on the piston. This increased force on each individual piston increases the potential horsepower of the entire engine. The timing of the opening and closing of the valves is essential to ensure the air in the cylinder is maximized to create the most power in each cycle.

References

{{Reflist # “Timing Is Everything .” ''Magnaflux Inspection - Aircraft Engine Overhaul'', Victor Aviation Services, www.victor-aviation.com/Inertia_Supercharging_AirFlow_Optimization.ph # Brain, Marshall, and Kristen Hall Geisler. “How Car Engines Work.” ''HowStuffWorks'', 5 Apr. 2000, auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm # P.W. Performance Exhaust # Bohacz, Ray T. “Forced Induction .” ''Hemmings.com'', May 2015, www.hemmings.com/magazine/hcc/2015/05/Forced-Induction/3748512.html. # Hu, Bo, et al. “Observations on and Potential Trends for Mechanically Supercharging a Downsized Passenger Car Engine:a Review.” ''Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency'', 6 Apr. 2016, journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0954407016636971. # Kertes, Rick. “Valve Timing Events and the Order of Importance.” ''Engine Builder Magazine'', 19 Apr. 2017, www.enginebuildermag.com/2016/04/valve-timing-events-and-the-order-of-importance/. Two-stroke engine technology Supercharging

Background

Overview

See also

References