TURBOCHARGER

Turbocharger is a mechanical device that is used to increase the power and efficiency of an engine by increasing the amount of air entering into the combustion chamber. More air into the combustion chamber means more amount of fuel will be fed into the cylinder and as a result one will get more power from the same engine if a turbocharger is installed in it. A turbocharger basically draws the air from the atmosphere and compresses it with the help of a compressor before it enters into the intake manifold at increased pressure. This results in more amount of air entering into the cylinders on each intake stroke. The compressor gets power from the kinetic energy of engine’s exhaust gases.

A turbocharger has three main components

1. A turbine (radial inflow turbine)
2. A compressor (centrifugal compressor)
3. The centre hub rotating assembly

How a turbocharger works

1.     Cool air enters the engine's air intake manifold and heads toward the compressor.

2.     The compressor fan helps to suck air in.

3.     The compressor squeezes and heats up the incoming air and blows it out again.

4.     Hot compressed air from the compressor passes through the heat exchanger, which cools it down.

5.     Cooled compressed air enters the cylinder's air intake manifold. The extra oxygen helps to burn fuel in the cylinder at a faster rate.

6.     Since the cylinder burns more fuel, it produces energy more quickly and can send more power to the wheels.

7.     Waste gas from the cylinder exits through the exhaust outlet.

8.     The hot exhaust gases blowing past the turbine fan make it rotate at high speed.

9.     The spinning turbine is mounted on the same shaft as the compressor. So, as the turbine spins, the compressor spins too.

10.  The exhaust gas leaves the car, wasting less energy than it would otherwise.

Turbochargers can be used with either petrol or diesel

 engines. An engine fitted with a turbocharger is much smaller and lighter than an engine producing the same power without a turbocharger, so a turbocharger car can give a better fuel economy.