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  • Prometh Volute methanol injection able to get another 2-3 psi out of a compressor and increase efficiency?

      • Prometh Volute methanol injection able to get another 2-3 psi out of a compressor and increase efficiency?

        Published on 11-06-2018 03:12 PM
        16 Comments Comments
        This is an interesting setup and drag racers have messed around with volute injection for a while now. Essentially, you are spraying water/methanol directly into the compressor housing. Prometh says this increases the efficiency of the compressor output.


        Here is the claim:

        Quote Originally Posted by Prometh
        Our volute injection kits are becoming more and more popular with builders for both street and strip applications. Originally came about as a way to get around the rules in different classes of drag racing that banned our pre compressor injection. It’s now becoming more and more popular for street applications due to how compact and effective it is at lowering discharge temps while increasing the compressors output and efficiency.
        Let's say you are spinning a blower to max rpm or even overspinning it and generating quite a bit of heat. Well, this solution would in theory drop temps and possibly provide 2-3 more psi of boost.

        That is what Prometh tells BoostAddict:

        Quote Originally Posted by Prometh
        Volute injection has the advantage of improving the compressor efficiency while else reducing air charge temps. If you inject after the compressor, in the charge pipe, you will lower air charge temps but no effect on the compressors efficiency.
        The general idea is to spray before the compressor. It would be great to see some before/after results with the volute injection. There is no reason this would not work in theory on turbochargers as well.






        This article was originally published in forum thread: Prometh Volute methanol injection able to get another 2-3 psi out of a compressor and increase efficiency? started by Sticky View original post
        Comments 16 Comments
        1. Payam@BMS's Avatar
          Payam@BMS - 11-06-2018, 04:54 PM
          Usually those type of cars run 100% methanol as fuel and no intercooler at all.
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 11-06-2018, 05:01 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Payam@BMS Click here to enlarge
          Usually those type of cars run 100% methanol as fuel and no intercooler at all.
          I think you're thinking of a different drag class.
        1. 135idct's Avatar
          135idct - 11-06-2018, 08:15 PM
          dpmi is the best way to go
        1. spdracerut's Avatar
          spdracerut - 11-07-2018, 12:08 AM
          Methanol injection pre-turbo compressor was used in the golden years of CART/Champ Car Indy cars. When the Unsers raced the Andrettis, Zanardi, Paul Tracy, etc.
        1. AWSAWS's Avatar
          AWSAWS - 11-08-2018, 01:07 PM
          I hate to think of all the increased wear on the compressor...

          Click here to enlarge

          Spray after the air is compressed when it's hottest for the greatest temp gradient.
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 11-08-2018, 03:02 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by AWSAWS Click here to enlarge
          I hate to think of all the increased wear on the compressor...

          https://www.BoostAddict.com/images/i...ine=1437509151

          Spray after the air is compressed when it's hottest for the greatest temp gradient.
          Bad image link... don't have tags after .jpg
        1. spdracerut's Avatar
          spdracerut - 11-08-2018, 11:56 PM
          Compressor wheels can be coated for corrosion resistance, electroless nickel plating. Something used on heavy duty diesels that run a lot of EGR.
        1. marconi118's Avatar
          marconi118 - 11-09-2018, 03:43 PM
          any difference in efficiency form volute injection to pre compressor injection?
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 11-09-2018, 06:37 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by marconi118 Click here to enlarge
          any difference in efficiency form volute injection to pre compressor injection?
          That's what I want to see data on.

          Volute injection likely is making a nice impact though of the guys in the drag classes wouldn't do it.
        1. F87Source's Avatar
          F87Source - 11-10-2018, 05:29 AM
          I've never sprayed water meth into a compressor before, but I've read things from it corroding the compressor wheel, to if it is not atomized properly the large droplets can actually damage or even chip the compressor blades, or pool in the intercooler as the temp drop and huge restriction causes condensation. That's pretty much the reason for me never going that route, and doing charge pipe injection just for the IAT reduction, and steam cleaning of the valves.
        1. spdracerut's Avatar
          spdracerut - 11-11-2018, 04:24 PM
          Yes, fluid droplets hitting the compressor wheel can certainly damage it. On race cars which swap out turbos often, not so much an issue. Performance wise, spraying in front of the compressor is better. Basically, the air gets continuously cooled DURING compressor by the methanol absorbing the heat. So constant intercooling which improves compressor performance vs doing the cooling after all the air is compressed.
        1. F87Source's Avatar
          F87Source - 11-12-2018, 12:52 AM
          Yeah I can't keep changing my turbos every so often lol.
        1. Eleventeen's Avatar
          Eleventeen - 11-13-2018, 11:00 AM
          I wonder how much difference these guys are actually seeing. They will invest thousands of dollars just to see a few hundredths. Compared to traditional WMI, is it worth bothering with on a street car?
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 11-13-2018, 08:06 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Eleventeen Click here to enlarge
          hey will invest thousands of dollars just to see a few hundredths.
          That is the name of the game they play.
        1. Bowser330's Avatar
          Bowser330 - 11-21-2018, 01:04 PM
          its not only about the turbo compressor wheels getting damaged, don't those metal particles go straight into the combustion chamber? When those particles go in I would assume they could impact the combustion as they could create hot spots that could lead to pre-ignition. Not only that but the additional metal particles could add to the wear and tear.

          As previously mentioned on race cars that swap turbos, do fluid flushes and tear downs after races its not an issue.

          I would like to see the incremental benefits of pre vs post compressor injection, my bet is that its not enough to out weigh the risks/ add'l costs
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 11-21-2018, 08:11 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Bowser330 Click here to enlarge
          I would like to see the incremental benefits of pre vs post compressor injection, my bet is that its not enough to out weigh the risks/ add'l costs
          Yep there is data lacking here but if you're one of those people trying to eek out every last horse...