Introduction to Turbocharging—A Perspective on Air Management System

Abstract

This chapter provides an introduction to air management system with an emphasis on turbocharging, its role in emissions, fuel economy and performance. A typical turbocharger has a radial turbine run by the exhaust gas (thus extracting useful energy) which in turn spins a compressor that compresses air drawn from the atmosphere through the intake system. Sending compressed air into the engine allows more fuel to be burnt within the same volume, increasing the efficiency of the engine (lower surface area means lower frictional and heat transfer losses). In other words, a turbocharger could be used to “downsize” the internal combustion engine, with reduced losses. It is also accompanied by reduced emissions since the air flow could be increased as desired with a turbocharger.