Antonov Invents World's First Two-Speed Supercharger
System Adapts Gearbox and Turbocharging Theory to the Supercharger
Author: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press
Chances are, unless you’re in the know about automotive components suppliers and developers, you haven’t heard of a company called Antonov. Antonov is a European research and development firm, similar to Bosch or ZF; however, they’re different in that their approach on automotive components comes from a different perspective. Since 1995, the brand has invested over £28 m (equal to $57.6 m CAD, $52 m USD) in R&D for innovation, and has come up with a series of key technology products that include the Mechanical Module, a self-controlled device used to offset centrifugal forces for flywheels, a compact six-speed automatic gearbox, and single as well as dual-clutch manual gearboxes.
Up until now, Antonov spent its efforts on refining and re-thinking conventional transmissions and gearbox-related components, however, this past week the brand moved in a new direction by creating the world’s first twin-speed supercharger. Like the turbocharger, the supercharger is a widely used component designed for improving performance through forced aspiration, the compression of air, although the operation of Antonov’s twin-speed unit is unique. Superchargers use the rotation of the engine’s crankshaft, via belts and pulleys, rather than exhaust gasses - the method for spooling up a turbocharger - to compress fresh air into the combustion chamber. Compared to turbos, which have a lag or delay period before action, a supercharger’s response is instantaneous.
Nevertheless, as with any existing system there is always room for improvement; superchargers have their downfalls. As they use belts to transmit power, a great deal of friction is created, limiting the engine’s ability to turn at high speeds and reducing the overall efficiency of the system. Antonov’s cure to this problem is to combine two types of Rotrex superchargers - one specifically tuned to deliver low-rpm power, and another that operates at higher revs - to create the drive system. The first supercharger is a centrifugal pump system, which is small, simple and light. It serves to generate greater low-end torque, which gives a car its ‘off the line punch’. Once a certain engine speed is attained, a rev range that is adjustable to the type of engine, the drive system switches over to a positive boost (conventional) type supercharger via a gearbox-like mechanism to deliver performance geared to higher engine speeds.
The two-speed supercharger concept that Antonov developed is a similar concept to turbocharging systems that use small and large-sized turbochargers independently to create high pressure boost with little performance lag. While the sequential turbocharging system, as seen in BMW’s high-end 535d turbodiesel sedan, is an effective measure in combating dreaded turbo lag, the system is high in cost, and is very intricate and complex. It will be several years before such systems will be applied to conventional automobiles. Antonov’s twin-speed supercharger is much less complex, and most of the components are encapsulated in a single unit.
The two-speed supercharger will make its debut at the Engine Expo Exhibition in Stuttgart Germany this week, with a demonstration on the Zandvoort racetrack in Holland shortly thereafter. Antonov has already applied its two-speed supercharger technology to two vehicles, including a luxurious Mercedes-Benz and a V8-powered Ford Mustang GT, showing that the system can be installed into two distinctly different types of vehicles without difficulty or re-engineering.
In terms of marketing, Antonov aims to target the import tuner and aftermarket components scene prior to manufacturers; company CEO Jeff Moore says, "Our tactic of selling to the world’s largest market for tuner products is strategically important, particularly while we are in discussion with vehicle manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers interested in high volume applications. It shows OEMs that we are confident enough to launch the variable drive into the industry’s toughest marketplace to prove this is fully developed and readily available technology. We have experienced strong interest and have already supplied units to OEM clients for assessment and development trials."
With today’s high fuel costs, getting more power out of smaller displacement engines is critical, and Antonov’s two-speed supercharger could be the ideal low-cost answer for aftermarket builders and OEMs alike.
http://news.en.autos.sympatico.msn.c...umentid=486028
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Originally Posted by MrKipling
