Experimental Analysis and Computer Modelling of Turbo-Charger System Pressure Drop

This paper describes development of a computer model and experimental test equipment for analysis of pressure and temperature distribution in charge air systems including charge air cooler. Turbocharging and charge air cooling are being used on heavy truck applications at an ever increasing rate. System pressure loss is an important design criteria for charge air cooling.

Each system component is analyzed separately in the computer model using basic principles of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics to determine temperature and pressure of the air flowing through the system.

The full size system with actual hardware from the engine and ducting system is assembled on the test stand to model in-vehicle geometries. Temperature, static, and total pressure were measured at various points to determine the contribution of each geometric feature to pressure changes in the system.

Excellent correlation was obtained between computer, test stand and actual vehicle test results.