The goal of this project was to test and analyze exactly how much power would be gained supercharging the fairly small and low-powered engine in a 1990 Mazda Miata, and how supercharging would affect exactly how the car’s engine operates. To prepare the car for testing and then supercharging, the car had multiple supporting modifications and upgrades done to it. The car was then tuned and tested by a professional tuner on a dynamometer, so that we could see exactly how much horsepower and torque the engine was producing. A supercharger was then fitted to the engine, using parts of a kit purchased online. This supercharger installed required the design and fabrication of a bypass valve system, a mounting bracket, a full engine intake tract, a relocated throttle body setup, and a belt tensioner. Once the supercharger was properly hooked up and running, the car was again tuned and tested on a dynamometer, and a comparison was made between the naturally aspirated engine and the supercharged engine using data taken from the dynamometer and the car’s ECU. This data included power, torque, boost, spark advance, and volumetric efficiency. The data showed a large increase in power and torque made by the engine, and demonstrated how effective a supercharger can be in increasing an engine’s performance.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Lynch, Niall E.
• Breckenridge, Carter S.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-102820-101728
• 4591

Advisor

• Daniello, Robert

Year

• 2020

Date created

• 2020-10-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright