What is a Centrifugal Type Supercharger?
A Centrifugal Supercharger is a dynamic compressor supercharger that relies on accelerating the air to high speed and then exchanging that velocity for pressure. The Centrifugal Supercharger gets its name from its design – the air that is drawn in at the hub of the impeller is caused to radiate outward due to centrifugal force. Here’s how it works: Inside a centrifugal supercharger is an impeller – which is similar to a rotor in a turbocharger. This impeller can reach speeds of 50,000 to 60,000 RPM. As the air is drawn in at the hub of the impeller, centrifugal force causes it to radiate outward. The air then leaves the impeller at high speed, but low pressure. Next, the air enters a diffuser, which is a set of stationary canes surrounding the impeller. The diffuser converts the high-speed, low-pressure air to low-speed, high-pressure air, which creates a boost. TRD uses a Vortec centrifugal supercharger for the Scion tC. It was selected for two reasons: Restricted under-hood space and
