Performance prediction of twin-entry turbocharger turbines

Abstract

In this paper, the performance of the twin-entry radial flow turbine under steady state and partial admission conditions is modeled. The method, which is developed here, is based on one-dimensional performance prediction. In one-dimensional modeling, the flow properties are assumed constant on a plane normal to the flow direction. This assumption is in contrast with the flow at the rotor entry of a twin-entry turbine under partial admission condition. In this study the one-dimensional performance prediction method for a single-entry turbine is modified to analyze the twin-entry turbine. In particular, the loss coefficients due to friction, clearance and blade loading, which are already developed for single-entry turbines, are modified. Also, additional losses in the rotor are considered because of twin-entry rotor inlet conditions and the rotor-mixing losses. Indeed, in a single-entry turbine with symmetric volute, the flow tends to move toward the shroud. A correlation for the radial velocity profile at the rotor entry for this case is obtained and is considered to be optimum. Then the rotor mixing loss is estimated. Finally a model based on the above mentioned matters is developed. The results obtained from the model are compared with the experimental results and good agreements are obtained. In this paper, special behaviors of the flow in the twin-entry turbine are also investigated and some physical interpretations are presented.