What is the effect of supercharging on engine efficiency?

Supercharging an engine involves forcing additional air into the combustion chamber, which allows for more fuel to be burned and results in a more potent explosion during combustion. This process can lead to several benefits, particularly in terms of engine power output and overall performance.

The correct understanding is that supercharging primarily enhances engine efficiency by improving the air-to-fuel ratio and allowing for denser fuel mixtures. This can lead to better combustion and greater power without a proportional increase in the size or weight of the engine. While it's true that supercharging can have complex effects depending on the specific engine design and operating conditions, the overarching principle is that it usually leads to improved efficiency rather than having no effect at all.

However, it's important to note that while some may think supercharging does not affect efficiency, the potential gains in power and performance are significant in most applications, which is why supercharging is widely implemented in high-performance vehicles. The misconception might stem from a misunderstanding of how supercharging works in conjunction with engine efficiency metrics such as thermal efficiency or brake-specific fuel consumption over the entire operation range.