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C-Kwik »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/c-kwik-u426.html
Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:52 pm
Interesting. While the idea of supercharging with two different types of charges had crossed my mind at some point in time, I pretty much dismissed it due to the complexity and relatively poor result for a car running on gasoline. The advatage to boosting in series is that rather than adding boost, it actually multiplies it. So if you have 2 compressors boosting at a pressure ratio of 2 (14.7 psi of boost in a single stage compression is a pressure ratio of 2.0 at sea level), then rather than getting 28.7 psi over atmosphere, you get a total pressure ratio of 4.0 which equates to 44.1 psi. The mechanical energy needed to compress the air is less than the energy needed to compress the air to the same level in a single stage of compression though. Problem is gasoline hits its limitations of effective gains in power well before that kind of boost is realized.
In your case, I believe Stillens kit runs about 6 psi and the Vortech (if that's what that kit is) is like 7-8. Assuming this, you'ld be running pressure ratios of 1.41 and 1.54 which multiply out to a total pressure ratio of 2.18. This is equal to 17.22 psi at seal level (potentially). That's a significant amount of boost over either kit alone, but such levels can easily be reached by any reasonably sized turbo kit. Such boost levels regardless of how its achieved will likely require quite a bit of build on the motor. Also, I'd speculate the points of highest efficiency for charger will not be aligned with the other very well.
Bear in mind Garrett designed a single turbo that has 2 compressors that are back to back. One dumps directly into the other allowing multiplication of boost but is driven by a single turbine. However, the realistic widespread application would likely be limited to use in diesel motors. There could be some use in race motors, but it will likely require the use of a more exotic fuel that can handle high levels of boost. Perhaps alcohol/methanol or nitromethane.