Race Car Superchargers Adapted For Farm Use

Race Car Superchargers Adapted For Farm Use ENGINES Farmers looking for more efficiency from stationary engines have a new ally in Vortech Engineering of Oxnard Calif Vortech which is known for its horsepower-boosting superchargers for high performance automobiles dragsters and tractors used in pulling competition has started adapting products to fit conventional production agriculture applications Vortech’s product manager Bob Endress says that using Vortech’s centrifugal compressor rather than a traditional axial fan in grain dryers can produce better operating efficiency using less electricity Endress says that a dryer with Vortech’s compressor could use a 5 horsepower motor rather than a 10 horsepower size needed for an axial fan with similar output “The dryer will generate more uniform air flow with the centrifugal compressor and use half or less than half the power ” Endress says Vortech also improves the efficiency of big diesel engines like those used to run irrigators or generators Their centrifugal supercharger compresses combustion air before it enters the cylinder which increases density This allows more air and fuel to be burned in the combustion cycles for a dramatic increase in torque and horsepower Vortech has more than 20 years of experience with thousands of production superchargers manufactured The compressor’s internal components such as the diffuser impeller and volute are carefully matched with much iteration tested and verified until maximum efficiency is achieved Efficiency is up to 80 percent with some units Their partner company Comp Pro Systems has found that many of the stationary diesel and gas engines used on farms and ranches run dirty and have a short duty cycle Comp Pro sells its MES600 engine family which is based on the Ford Series 385 engine The engines have been tested on a wide range of alternate fuels including LPG CNG/LNG E85 E98 NH3 H2 race fuel Syngas and pipeline oilfield gasses Endress says the engines are built to industrial standards using forged components hardened valve seats custom intake runners priority oiling special valves and coated pistons The company targets 25 000+ hours of continuous operation The engines run at low rpm’s develop high torque and produce impressive energy The 600 cu in model is rated at 200 to 250kW and the 732 cu in model is rated at 300 to 330kW Both engines are fitted with a Vortech centrifugal supercharger Using 105 to 115 high octane fuels raises compression to diesel levels and incorporates lean-burn technology near diesel fuel economy near zero emissions and extreme durability Endress says “these features are getting more important because more states are facing stricter emission regulations ” Base systems start at $18 500 and Gen Set systems start at $22 500 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bob Endress Vortech Engineering 1650 Pacific Ave Oxnard Calif 93033 ph 805 247-0226; bendress@vortechsuperchargers com; www vortechsuperchargers com ; or CompPro Systems ph 714 476-3839

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