how a turbo charger works

SDW 14/11/97© Holset Engineering Co Ltd


Holset Product TrainingHolset Product TrainingHow A Turbocharger WorksHow A Turbocharger Works

How does a turbocharger work ?

• The Turbine End • The Compressor End

• The Oil Supply

• The Piston Ring Seals

• Summary



• The turbine housing is bolted to the exhaust manifold of the engine.

• The waste exhaust gasses are used to rotate a turbine wheel which is housed in the turbine casing.

• The turbine wheel is connected to a common shaft which in turn rotates a compressor wheel.



• Rotating the turbine wheel is the only use for the waste exhaust gas.

• Once the gas has passed through the blades of the wheel it leaves the turbine housing via the exhaust outlet area.



• As more gas passed through the turbine housing, the faster the turbine wheel rotates.

• As the turbine wheel increases in speed, so does the compressor wheel. This creates a sucking process and pulls air into the compressor cover from the atmosphere (filtered)

• The faster the wheels spin the, the more air is sucked in.



• As the air is sucked into the compressor cover, it is forced through a diffuser area.

• This compressors the air and forces it into the engine

• This process causes the air to increase in temperature, sometimes up to 200 degrees C



• Front Wheel Clearance affects the performance of the turbo.

• The smaller the FWC the better the performance.

• The Compressor Wheel Bore must be machined to tolerance / drawing.

• Over sized bore will affect the balance of the turbocharger. Compressor Wheel

Profile

Compressor CoverProfile.

Compressor Wheel Bore

F W C



• The oil used in a turbocharger is the same as that used for your engine.

• The oil is used as both a lubricant and a coolant.

• It is fed under pressure into the bearing housing, through to the journal bearings and thrust system.



• The Journal Bearings are a free floating rotational type.

To perform correctly, the journalbearings should float between a filmof oil (i.e. between bearing & shaft,& bearing & bearing housing.)

• Dirty oil, or blockages in the oil supply holes can cause serious damage to the turbocharger.



• Piston Ring Seals, can be found at both ends of the turbocharger

• They are designed to keep the exhaust pressure out of the bearing housing, and the air pressure out of the bearing housing.

• The surface finish on both Turbine & Compressor end bore must be smooth and score free.



Summary • What is the function of the Turbine Housing ?

• What is the function of the Compressor Housing ?

• What is the function of the oil in the turbocharger ?

how a turbo charger works

Education

turbine housing

holset product training

turbocharger works summary

compressor housing

turbine wheel increases

turbine compressor end

bearing housing

wheel clearance