Method for operating a supercharged internal combustion engine and device for providing combustion air for a supercharged internal combustion engine

A device for providing combustion air in a supercharged internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder group comprising a number n of combustion chambers, wherein the device contains two or more separate air manifolds, a primary charge air path containing at least charge air compressor, and at least one compressed air reservoir, wherein a valve arrangement is provided in order to supply the two or more air manifolds selectively with combustion air through the primary charge air path or alternatively to supply only a portion of the separate air manifolds with combustion air from the primary charge air path, while (i) the entire remaining portion of the separate air manifolds or (ii) only a sub-group of the remaining portion of the separate air manifolds can be supplied with combustion air from the compressed air reservoir, wherein the device is configured to operate in a plurality of operating states, wherein, during a first operating state, all of the air manifolds are supplied with combustion air via the primary charge air path, wherein during a second operating state, only a first portion of the air manifolds are supplied with combustion air via the primary charge air path while a second portion of the air manifolds are deactivated, wherein during a third operating state, only the first portion of the air manifolds are supplied with combustion air from the primary charge air path and the second portion of the air manifolds are supplied with combustion air from the compressed air reservoir.