SUPERCHARGING 1.Supercharging, or pressure charging, is a means of increasing the power output of a given engine. It is the process of filling the engine cylinder before the compression stroke begins, with air at a pressure several pounds (2.0 - 2.5 kg/ сm) above atmospheric; this is done for the purpose of getting a greater weight of air into the cylinder than can be obtained by the ordinary method. Since the ratio of air at beginning and end of compression for any condition is fixed, it follows that, if we start with a higher pressure, the final compression pressure will be higher. This means that if the engine is supercharged, the volume of the compression space must be enlarged if the compression pressure is to be kept the same. 2.Having a greater weight of air in the cylinder we can burn more fuel. Although more oil is burned there is more air present and the ratio of oil to air is the same as without supercharging. Exhaust occurs at a higher pressure, but the temperature of the exhaust is even lower than with ordinary operation. The reason for this is that the valve timing is so arranged that the inlet valve opens before the exhaust valve closes; and the inlet air being higher in pressure than the exhaust gases at the time the inlet valve opens, the air is blown through the compression space, scavenging out the gases and cooling them, as well as cooling the piston and cylinder walls. This action also completely fills the compression space, i.e. cylinder space with fresh air. The net increase in power developed in the engine may be as much as 50%. http://3.In modern Diesel engines exhaust gas turbocharging is widely used. The exhaust-driven turbochargers operate on the pulse system or on the constant-pressure principle, and are independent of the crankshaft. Their speed changes with the load on the engine. No auxiliary drive or blower is required for starting or for operation at partial loads. The air compressed by the turbochargers flows into the scavenging-air receiver and through non-return valves into the chambers below each cylinder. Here it is further compressed by the pistons on their downward stroke before flowing into combustion space when the pistons uncover the scavenge ports. The pumping action of the lower piston surfaces is quite sufficient to scavenge out and charge the cylinders when the engine is being started up, before the turbochargers come into operation. In fact even if all the turbochargers should be out of action, the ship could still be run at 75% of her normal speed. Another consequence of this arrangement is that the exhaust remains completely clear even down to low partial load.