Eureka! Institutional Repository

This thesis examines the supercharging of Otto and petrol engine using a turbine supercharger. The piston Internal Combustion Engine (I.C.E.) has been one of the most successful inventions ever made by man. This is confirmed by the fact that the I.C.E. has been the world's most widely used thermal engine for the production of mechanical power. It is evident that I.C.Es prevail almost entirely in terrestrial and marine transportations, and in many cases they are also used for the production of electricity power. Turbocharging plays an important role in the efficiency of I.C.Es. The term turbocharging refers to the process by which a compressor increases the density of the air entering the engine’s combustion chamber. This means that besides internal compression (generated by the upward movement of the piston) there is also external compression generated. The increased density of the incoming air results in increased fuel injection, which leads to a significant boost in engine power and spectacular rises in torque values. Since its first construction during the mid-19th century, the I.C.E. has undergone a rapid evolution, resulting not only in improved performance but also in reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Currently, turbocharging is mainly used to attain increased engine performance, it is remarkable that in the recent decades, the power has increased by four times without significant change of the pistons volume but it also contributes to the restriction of environmental pollution by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.