Flow Measurements and Flow Predictions at the Inlet of a Turbocharger Turbine

The results of laser velocimeter measurements in the inlet region of a radial inflow turbine are presented. Velocity and flow angle measurements were made in a number of locations upstream and downstream of the rotor tip. Experimental results were compared to those calculated by a potential flow model. The experimental and calculated results agreed well in velocity magnitudes and velocity gradient directions. Agreement was qualitatively good for angular data in that angular contour shapes were similar but differed in magnitude by about 6 degrees. Potential flow models can serve as an initial solution to more complicated flow models due to the potential nature of the measured flow at the inlet.