Twin-Screw Supercharger – Are They Really That Good?
What’s so good about a screw supercharger? Twin-screw superchargers have been around for quite a while, and they are among the most popular types you can find on the market. Here, we will take a closer look at these air compressors, how they work, and whether they are worth your time and money. Let’s talk about Lysholm blowers!
What Is a Lysholm Supercharger
Lysholm superchargers is a name used for positive displacement pumps with a two-screw design. In fact, you probably know them by the name “twin-screw superchargers.”
Lysholm blowers got the name from Alf Lysholm, the engineer responsible for their development. Over the years, his superchargers changed and improved, but the general design remained mostly the same.
One of the main characteristics of Lysholm blowers (besides two screws) is their complex design and accuracy. They usually have really high tolerances, which makes them quite efficient but also expensive.
Twin-screw superchargers are among the most popular ones, and many companies offer their own take of the design. But more on that later.
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Positive Displacement Pumps
We briefly mentioned positive displacement pumps earlier, so let’s take a moment to talk about them a bit more. What are positive displacement pumps? In short, they are mechanical devices that push a fixed amount of fluid through the body of the device they are attached to.
In our case, the fluid is air. The reason why this is so important for superchargers is the fact that providing more air to the engine will allow it to burn more fuel. This will, of course, result in more power. The only way to introduce more air to the combustion chamber is by compressing it on its way. And this is one of the reasons superchargers are considered to be air compressors.
How Does a Twin-Screw Type Supercharger Work
The basic principle of twin-screw blowers is the same as with any other PD pump. The air is being pushed through the device, and it is compressed in the process. The compressing is achieved via a set of worm gears operating at high speeds.
These gears can have any number of lobes, but the number is not identical for both screws. And this is very important. Each rotor or gear is symmetrical but only radially. So, we have a male rotor and a female rotor that force the air into the engine, compressing it along the way.
When Was the Twin Screw Supercharger Introduced
The history of superchargers starts in 1848, with the introduction of the Roots-type compressor. While there are similarities between these two models, they are not identical. The first screw-type blower was introduced a few years later, more specifically, in 1878.
One of the important things to mention here is that when Heinrich Krigar introduced his first screw blower, it had two identical rotors. That is, both had a 180 degrees twist along the length. The main problem with his design was that it was nearly impossible to make it. Thus, the twin-screw compressors remained purely theoretical until Alf Lysholm created his own blower in 1935. Lysholm’s first compressor had four male and five female rotors.
Similarities With Other Types
The most obvious similarity is with Roots-type blowers. They both have lobes, and the idea behind them is the same. But there are still a couple of differences between the two. Firstly, the Roots-type always has two identical rotors. The rotary vane can have two lobes, three, and sometimes even four lobes, but they are all identical. And twin-screw uses two rotors with different numbers of lobes, and they are twisted across their length. This also means that a Roots-type blower is easier to make, and its price will be significantly lower.
Is There the Best Option?
No. Each type of supercharger comes with advantages and disadvantages. Saying that one is generally better than the other would be completely wrong.
Better at what? Every type of supercharger you can find benefits or advantages in one (or more) areas. For example, twin-screw is great at low RPMs, which isn’t the case with turbo.
So, you can find the best option for a specific scenario, but there is no universal best option that works in every single case.
Parts on the Twin-Screw Supercharger
Each model of twin screw superchargers will share parts. These parts might not be identical, but they will be there. These parts are:
- Bypass actuator
- Front cover
- Housing
- Drive pulley
- Time gears
- Bearings
- Rotors
The most important parts are two rotors or screws, and they need to be made with exceptional accuracy. The reason for this is that these screws will always rotate close to each other, but they will never come into contact with one another. Considering the speed at which they rotate, touching each other would probably be the end of the device.
Pros and Cons of Using This Type of Blower
As with any other device in the world, there are advantages and disadvantages to twin-screw blowers. To keep things short, we have a list that will give you a nice idea about the pros and cons of these blowers and how they might compare to other types.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More horsepower compared to Roots-type | Installation can be challenging |
| Fixed amount of air with each rotation | Not as powerful as centrifugal blowers |
| Less heat compared to Roots-type | Can be expensive |
| Works great on low RPM | |
| Less noisy |
So, the main question here is what you are trying to achieve. Do you need a boost at low RPM? Or are you looking for something cheaper?
What Cars Can Use Twin-Screw Blowers?
In theory, every car can use a twin-screw blower. There are no limitations. However, that doesn’t mean that you can find a supercharger for every single vehicle on the planet. There is often a problem with supply and demand.
Twin-screw models are designed for the most popular brands of vehicles, and for those drivers will be willing to upgrade. And let’s be honest — it would be rather pointless to install a $6,000 supercharger on a $300 car. In essence, you are limited to what twin-screw manufacturers are willing to make. But you can probably order a supercharger for your car if you are that interested in owning one.
Is Whipple a Type of Twin-Screw
There has been a lot of talk about Whipple in the past couple of years, and many consider it as one of the best models on the market. Whipple superchargers are manufactured in the U.S. They are made with excellent precision, and they can be quite pricey.
And yes, they are a type of twin-screw blower. The main difference between Whipple and other superchargers based on the twin-screw design is that Whipple always has a predetermined number of lobes. The male rotor always has three, while the female has five lobes.
What Will You Get From It
By supercharging the engine, you will allow the combustion chamber to “accept” more air. And the reason for this is that the air arriving through the supercharger is compressed. You will get more air in the same amount of space. Otherwise, you would be forced to create a bigger engine which is not always possible.
As a result, the engine is able to burn more fuel, which will result in more power. But the amount of horsepower is not the only thing that will increase. You will also increase torque. Now, the percentage of horsepower and torque you will get is based on the type of blower you buy. It is not rare to find models that offer over 70% of an increase in horsepower!
How to Install It?
Installation of superchargers can be challenging for those without any prior experience. You will need appropriate tools, additional parts, and of course, the supercharger. You can find supercharger kits on the market that arrive with all the replacement parts you’ll need, but even with that, it is not something all drivers are comfortable doing on their own.
The other option, of course, is to leave it to someone who knows what they are doing. There is probably a shop or a service near you that can install it for you so you can avoid all the hassle.
Size of the Supercharger
When you start looking for a supercharger, probably the first thing you will notice is the name. Usually, superchargers will have a name like “5.0-liter V8 supercharger.” The manufacturer will always write the model of the car the blower is designed for as well.
But the important thing is that the “5.0” part of the name refers to the fitment. It means that the kit is designed for a 5.0-liter engine. If you look at the rest of the specifications, you will learn the size of the blower. This is to avoid confusion since the size of the supercharger will use the same unit. Naturally, blowers are often smaller than the engine.
How Much Will A Screw Supercharger Cost?
Each supercharger is different, and the price will vary as well. There is no saying as to how much the blower will cost since there are so many factors that will determine the price. Generally speaking, superchargers with twin-screw designs will cost between $4,000 and $7,000.
Whipple superchargers are a bit pricier, and they can be well over $7,000. On top of that, you will need to add the price of the installation as well, which can cost between $500 and $1,000.
How Is It Compared to Other Types? Roots vs. Twin-Screw vs. Centrifugal
The most popular types of superchargers are twin-screw, Roots-type, and centrifugal. Let’s take a look at how different they are and what some of the advantages of each model are.
| Roots-type | Centrifugal | Twin-screw |
|---|---|---|
| Driven by a belt connected to the crankshaft | Driven by a belt connected to the crankshaft | Driven by a belt connected to the crankshaft |
| Positive displacement pump | Centrifugal type | Positive displacement pump |
| Works great on low RPM | Works best on high RPM | Great power on low RPM |
| Lowest efficiency | Highest efficiency | More efficient |
| Can be noisy | Lowest noise | Less noise |
| Lower hp and torque boost | Highest hp and torque boost | Higher hp and torque boost |
As you can see, twin-screw is almost a middle ground between Roots-type and centrifugal. However, centrifugal blowers are nowhere near twin-screw or Roots-type when it comes to low RPM.
Types of Twin-Screw Superchargers
As with any other product in the world, there are different brands and models you can find on the market. We already mentioned Whipple, and it is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other exceptional brands you might want to check out as well.
Today, companies like Mazda, Mercedes, Ford, and others use this design for their vehicles, and the most popular brands are Whipple and Vortech. It is up to you to find which model suits your needs when it comes to performance and price.
How To Find a Screw Supercharger for Your Car?
Probably the most important part is to be able to find a twin-screw blower for your vehicle. There are a few things you’ll need to know:
- Type of engine
- Size of the engine
- Model of the car
- Year
In essence, knowing exactly which type of engine is in your car will be enough. But if you don’t know it, other things on the list will be helpful. Knowing which car you own will not be enough since many manufacturers use several different engine options each year. So, you will need to know the year, as well as the size of the engine, before you can start searching for a perfect screw supercharger.
Which One Is Perfect for You?
Now, the answer to this question is highly subjective. You might prefer one type over the other. At the same time, you might not be willing to spend a lot of money to get a Whipple blower. There are so many variables to consider. Whichever supercharger you like, that is the right one for you.
And the best thing is that you can’t go wrong. As long as you find the model that’s suitable for the engine, you will get a significant increase in power.
Is a Twin Screw Supercharger Worth It?
Yes! Twin-screw superchargers are known for their excellent performance, and supercharging your engine is the simplest way to boost the power. More importantly, it is also the most effective one. Other methods of increasing the amount of horsepower will not have nearly as impressive results.
So, the answer is simple. If you are interested in transforming your car and making it run even better, a screw supercharger is worth every cent. You will notice the difference immediately.
Are Twin-Screw Superchargers Good?
Twin-screw superchargers are among the most popular blowers you can find on the market. And for a reason. They are reliable, efficient, and they will significantly increase the performance of your vehicle. They are also known to be more efficient than Roots-type, have fewer problems with heating, and create less noise.
Many drivers will tell you that Whipple superchargers a godsend. So, there is nothing to worry about. If you opt to buy a blower based on the twin-screw design, you will love every second spent in your new car.
Whipple superchargers for Mustangs is a very popular upgrade to really increase the performance of your car. With results as much as 60% more horsepower is very achievable.
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