January 2013
ISSUE 114
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S e r v i n g
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January’s Theme:
Turbo Charging By Marek Krasuski
T
he turbocharger has come a long way since its invention by Dr. A.J. Buechi in 1905. There was little demand for several decades until pressure to economize engines and comply with a growing spate of fuel efficiency standards began in the 1970s. As fuel prices continued their long ascent, turbochargers have become a smart choice for improving mileage, increasing horsepower and torque, and optimizing capacity. Turbochargers achieve this by adding more air to the engine. Hot exhaust gases created by the exhaust stroke spin a turbine which in turn spins the compressor. Cold air is pulled in, compressed and then pushed into the engine. The difference between a turbo engine and a naturally aspirated engine – one which relies solely on atmospheric pressure – is that the latter has to pull air in through the intake stroke. In contrast, the exhaust driven turbocharger increases the mass of intake air. More compressed air is then pushed into the combustion chamber, thereby increasing oxygen and permitting the introduction of more fuel.
Turbocharger with variable turbine geometry (VTG)
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Theme, page 4 >>