Drag Racers Are Ditching Superchargers for Scuba-Style Tanks and Compressed Air | FerrariChat
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Drag Racers Are Ditching Superchargers for Scuba-Style Tanks and Compressed Air

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by NYC Fred, Apr 3, 2025.

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  1. NYC Fred

    NYC Fred F1 World Champ
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    #1 NYC Fred, Apr 3, 2025
    News to me...

    Compressed Air Supercharging has developed equipment that delivers extremely cold, dense air to the engine in an instant—and racers are getting results with it.

    We’re seeing that right now as a small group of drag racers are shelving their turbos and belt-driven blowers for power adders that look like scuba tanks.

    https://www.thedrive.com/news/drag-racers-are-ditching-superchargers-for-scuba-style-tanks-and-compressed-air?utm_term=The%20Drive_Wire_04.03.2025&utm_campaign=The%20Drive_Wire_Actives_Dynamic&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email
     
    INRange likes this.
  2. INRange

    INRange F1 World Champ
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    #2 INRange, Apr 3, 2025
    The trick is the fuel and ignition system. You would need a lot of dyno time to sort out the right balance of A/F and timing using compressed air.

    Too much air and the lean condition detonates the engine. Turbos and superchargers are very predictable.
     
  3. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 jcurry, Apr 4, 2025
    Reading the article sounds like the delivery is no different than turbo or super-charging.
     
  4. INRange

    INRange F1 World Champ
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    #4 INRange, Apr 4, 2025
    I believe the main challenge is constructing a regulator that is RPM based so that it adds compressed air and fuel consistently under a load condition.

    Turbos and superchargers by their nature are rpm based which make them predictable.

    Certainly computer controlled technology is better than it was when Mickey Thompson tried it with 16 scuba tanks….but the problem remains building a regulator that performs better than a turbo or supercharger.

    https://www.enginelabs.com/news/compressed-air-supercharging-instant-horsepower-explained/
     

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