A Capacitance Based Transducer to Detect Oil Leakage from the Turbine End of a Turbocharger

This paper describes the principle of operation of a novel capacitance based transducer which is employed in a bench mounted turbocharger to identify oil leakage from the “piston-ring” seal at the turbine end of the shaft. Some preliminary data relating to “vacuum-to-leak” conditions are presented along with graphs which illustrate the filling of the transducer. Finally, the design modifications which will be required if the transducer is to be used for leak detection in a turbocharger mounted on a firing engine, are briefly outlined.