Turbochargers
A turbocharger is a device that increases an engine’s power and efficiency by forcing additional air into the combustion chamber. This additional air boosts the power of the engine, allowing it to produce more power with less fuel. Turbochargers are becoming increasingly more common and are now a fixture on many modern vehicles.
The turbocharger was first developed in the early 1900s by Swiss engineer Alfred Büchi and made its way into aerospace and automotive applications in the 1960s. It consists of a turbine wheel and compressor wheel housed in a single housing. As the exhaust gases from the engine pass through the turbine wheel, they spin it, creating kinetic energy. This energy is then passed on to the compressor wheel, which is connected to an intake manifold. This draws in extra air, which is then pushed into the combustion chamber.
The advantages of turbocharged engines are many. For one, they can offer improved fuel economy, as they can convert the otherwise wasted energy of the exhaust gas into increased air the engine can use. This translates to less fuel used for the same amount of power, resulting in increased fuel efficiency. Additionally, turbochargers can significantly boost an engine’s power without adding much weight, so turbo-equipped vehicles can be more agile.
Turbocharged engines also have their drawbacks, however. The main issue is turbo lag, which is the amount of time it takes for the turbo to spool up, or reach maximum efficiency. As the turbine is turned by the exhaust gases, it takes time for the compressor to increase the pressure and spin up to its ideal speed. This can lead to significant power loss, particularly during low RPM shift changes.
Another potential problem with turbocharged engines is what is known as knocking or pinking. This occurs when the air-fuel mixture ignites too early in the combustion chamber, causing rapid burning that can damage the valves, pistons and other components in the engine. To prevent this from happening, many modern vehicles use a knock sensing system, which can detect the sound of knocking and adjust the timing of the spark plug to ensure that the mixture ignites at the correct time.
Despite the potential problems, turbocharging is becoming a popular choice for car manufacturers because of its ability to provide increased power without adding large amounts of weight. With modern technologies and knock sensors, turbocharged engines are becoming more reliable, efficient and powerful. As a result, turbocharging is now an integral part of the automotive industry, and can be found almost everywhere.
