Turbocharged petrol engine

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Turbochargers have been used on various petrol engines since 1962, in order to obtain greater power or torque output for a given engine displacement.

Contents

Most turbocharged petrol engines use a single turbocharger; however, twin-turbo configurations are also often used.

In motor racing, turbochargers were used in various forms of motorsport in the 1970s and 1980s. Since the mid-2010s, turbocharging has returned to several motor racing categories, such as Formula One and the World Rally Championship.

Several motorcycles in the late 1970s and early 1980s were produced with turbocharged engines.

History

1962 Turbo Jetfire engine 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire (27224201910).jpg
1962 Turbo Jetfire engine

Multiple turbochargers

Parallel configuration

A common arrangement for twin-turbo engines, especially on V engines is a parallel configuration. [15] This arrangement uses two identically sized turbos, each fed by a separate set of exhaust streams from the engine. Having two smaller turbos produce the same aggregate amount of boost as a larger single turbo allows them to reach their optimal rpm more quickly, thus improving boost delivery.

Sequential configuration

Another twin-turbo arrangement commonly used on car engines is a sequential configuration, where one turbo is active across the entire rev range of the engine and the other activates at higher rpm. [16] Below this rpm, both exhaust and air inlet of the secondary turbo are closed. Being individually smaller they have reduced lag [16] and having the second turbo operating at a higher rpm range allows it to get to full rotational speed before it is required. Such combinations are referred to as a sequential twin-turbo. Sequential twin-turbo systems are usually more complicated than parallel twin-turbo systems because they require additional wastegate pipes and valves to control the direction of the exhaust gases.

Other configurations

Automobile manufacturers rarely use more than two turbochargers. Some exceptions are the triple-turbocharger system used by the 2012–2017 BMW N57S straight-six diesel engine, the quad-turbocharger system used by the V12 engine in the 1991–1995 Bugatti EB110 and the quad-turbocharger system used by the W16 engine in the 2005–2015 Bugatti Veyron and 2016-present Bugatti Chiron.

Motorsport

1970 Toyota 7, twin-turbocharged racing car 1970 Toyota 7 turbo-charged rear.jpg
1970 Toyota 7, twin-turbocharged racing car

Indy car racing

The first turbocharged engine in motorsport was the Kurtis Kraft-Cummins Diesel driven by Fred Agabashian. He competed in the 1952 Indianapolis 500, qualifying on pole. [17] However the turbo failed on lap 71 out of 200.[ citation needed ]

Another one of the first uses of turbocharging in motorsport was a turbocharged version of the Offenhauser engine, which first competed at the 1966 Indianapolis 500 and used a Garrett AiResearch turbocharger. This engine won the 1968 Indianapolis 500 [18] [19] and power outputs of over 750 kW (1,000 hp) were achieved in 1973.

Sports car racing

In 1972, the Porsche 917/10K became the first turbocharged car to win the Can-Am series. The 917/10K was powered by a turbocharged flat-twelve engine producing up to 820 kW (1,100 hp).

Formula 1

In Formula One, the original "Turbo Era" lasted from the 1977 season until the 1988 season. During this era, Renault, Honda, BMW, and Ferrari produced engines with a capacity of 1,500 cc (92 cu in), and were capable of producing from 380 to 1,120 kW (510 to 1,500 hp) over this period. The first turbocharged Formula One car was the Renault RS01, [20] however early engines often suffered from reliability problems. By the mid-1980s, turbocharged engines dominated Formula One, until they were banned after the 1988 season.

Turbochargers returned to Formula One for the 2014 season, with turbocharged 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 engines replacing the naturally aspirated 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 engines that were previously used. The turbocharging combined with more powerful energy recovery systems kept the power level similar to the previous V8 engines, despite the smaller capacity and the lower rev limits. [21]

Touring car racing

In the German Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) racing series, the "Turbo Era" of 1985 until 1989 saw Volvo, Alfa Romeo and Ford becoming the first manufacturers to use turbocharged engines. In 1985, the Volvo 240 Turbo won the European Touring Car Championship, before turbochargers were banned at the start of 1990 season due to cost reasons.

Since the 2019 season, turbocharging has returned to DTM, with turbocharged 2.0 L (122 cu in) inline-four engines (shared with the Japanese Super GT "Class One" regulations) replacing the previous naturally aspirated 4.0  L (244  cu in ) V8 engines.

Rally

During the Group B era of 1982–1986, turbocharged engines producing up to 450 kW (600 hp) dominated the World Rally Championship. [22]

Turbocharging returned for the 2012 season and has been used since. WRC rally cars use a turbocharged 1.6 L (98 cu in) inline-four engine with a 34 mm restrictor in the air intake system. [23]

Motorcycles

Turbocharging is rarely used by manufacturers of motorcycles, with the following being the only examples of factory turbocharged motorcycles: [24] [25] [26] [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turbocharger</span> Exhaust-powered forced-induction device for engines

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flat engine</span> Combustion engine using pistons facing to the sides on a common crankshaft

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (930)</span> German turbocharged sports car variant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (964)</span> Motor vehicle

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Garrett Motion Inc., formerly Honeywell Transportation Systems and Honeywell Turbo Technologies, is an American company primarily involved in engineering, development and manufacturing of turbochargers and related forced induction systems for ground vehicles from small passenger cars to large trucks and industrial equipment and construction machinery. It originated as part of Garrett AiResearch's Industrial Division in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1954, after which they entered a contract to provide 5,000 turbochargers for the Caterpillar mining vehicle. It manufactured turbochargers for railroads and commercial trucks. The business produced approximately $3.6 billion in revenue in 2021. Garrett Motion is also involved in motorsports providing turbochargers and forced induction systems, solutions and related equipment to racing teams and various forms of automobile racing and professional competitions. In 2004, the business became part of American industrial conglomerate Honeywell International, Inc., as their Transportation Systems division. In 2018, it was spun off to become an independent company under the Garrett Motion name with corporate headquarters in Rolle, Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flat-six engine</span> Horizontally opposed 6-cylinder piston engine

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldsmobile V8 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renault RS01</span> Formula One racing car

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche V8 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

Porsche has made a number of V8 gasoline engines over the last 40 years; ever since their first V8 engine debuted in the Porsche 928, in 1977.

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