Performance Analysis of an Automotive Radial Turbine Using Different Housing Sizing

This work presents the performance analysis of a radial turbine operating with different housing sizing. The objective is to determine the changes in turbine operational behavior by using different housing sizing. The parameter that characterizes the radial turbine housing is called A/R. This parameter associates the cross-sectional area with area radius from turbine centerline. The turbine tests are made in a hot gas test stand in which a tubular combustion chamber is used to drive the turbine. The turbine tested belongs to an automotive turbocharger, the Master Power APL-240. The turbine housings used are 0.48, 0.63 and 1.06 A/R. Through the experimental data recorded, it is also possible to obtain the turbine performance map. The results present the turbine performance map and a comparison between the pressure ratio and turbine power for each turbines housing used. The results show that by reducing the turbine A/R, the mass flow rate for a given expansion ratio also reduces. The use of bigger A/R has influence in the maximum turbocharger mass flow rate. The analyses at turbines housing operational behavior are very important to engine and turbocharger matchment.