What is the difference between fan and blower?

Answer 1

The same difference between a turbocharger and a supercharger really. A turbo/fan can move air rapidly from one place to another (like a cooling fan - cold air moved to replace hot air, or like a turbocharger - air through filter and induction manifold into cylinders) but with minimal (if any....) pressurisation, therefore you always end up with optimum air movement between two places. A supercharger/blower can not only do the job of a turbo/fan unit, but has the added bonus of being able to pressurise the air, thus increasing overall pressure in a given area. To continue on my engine example, a turbocharger fills the cylinder in an engine on the induction stroke more efficiently than normally aspirated engines, increasing volumetric efficiency within the engine (roughly translated - means the cylinders are fully charged with burnable oxygen!). A supercharged engine has the air/oxygen forced into the cylinder under pressure, so providing more oxygen to burn, allowing more fuel to be added during the compression stroke, giving a greater power output on the cylinders' power stroke. Ever get the choise.....supercharged engines win hands down!