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Electric superchargers, do they work?
Well in theory they should help, but to what extent I couldn't tell you without hours of free time. Anyway, lets first look at the maths. I'll use my 2 cars as examples, with a 2.5L and a 1.5L engine.
Firstly how much air does an engine need. This can be calculated from the displacement and the RPM. Assuming we are going flat out I'll use 6000 RPM. There will be some degree of error in these calculations (my maths is shite).
1.5L engine @ 6000 RPM ~ 158 CFM
2.5L engine @ 6000 RPM ~ 263 CFM
Most of the electric super chargers I have seen are based on ducting fans. For example ones based on a 3" ducting fan which is sold as powerful and high flow. This one has 3" pipe in and out and has a larger square centre section housing a fan which looks about 3.5" in diameter. The flow rate for this fan is 122 CFM. Now you see the problem.
Its not all doom and gloom though. A company called Attwood produce a nice 4" fan called the Turbo 4000, this boasts a flow of 230 CFM. So that's the 1.5L engine sorted. The 2.5L would need two, but there isn't room under the bonnet.
One last thought, if your engine sucks more than the CFM the fan is rated at, then the fan may rotate faster than its designed to, causing the fan blades to shatter sending plastic into your engine.
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