Active Control Turbocharger for Automotive Application: An experimental evaluation

Abstract

The current paper presents the results from a comprehensive set of experimental tests on a prototype active control turbocharger. This is a continuing series of test work as part of the development of this new type of turbocharger. Driven by the need to comply to increasingly strict emissions regulations as well as a continuing strive for better overall performance the active control turbocharger is intended to provide an improvement over the current state-of-the-art in turbocharging. In this system, the nozzle is able to alter the throat inlet area of the turbine according to the pressure variation of each engine exhaust gas pulse thus imposing a substantially more ‘active’ form of control of the conditions at the turbine rotor inlet.