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Turbocharger performance is described in terms of compressor and turbine characteristics or operating maps. Reliable definition of the compressor map requires the accurate determination of the mass flow range, the boost pressure capability, and the efficiency of the compressor. Even though computational fluid dynamics provides significant information for the design of a given compressor, field testing is required to validate the actual compressor performance that will be delivered to the end-user. Hence, the precision and accuracy of the experimental facility are of vital importance, both regarding turbocharger development and customer needs. In this paper, uncertainty analysis is carried out to evaluate the propagation of measurement errors into the calculation of compressor performance characteristics. Uncertainty equations are derived from a simplified compressor data reduction code and applied to a typical set of experimental data.

The goal of the presented research is to study the effective operational range for a centrifugal vaneless diffuser turbocharger compressor with ported shroud typically used in diesel engines. A turbocharger bench facility was designed and tested in order to define the performances of the compressor and to better understand the occurrence of instabilities in the housing. Specific emphasis was given to the low mass flow rate region of the compressor performance characteristics where instabilities occur with fluctuations that can be significantly large in the case of surge. Static pressures and dynamic pressure fluctuations were measured at the inlet, the outlet, as well as at different positions around the volute and diffuser sections of the compressor in order to assess the development and propagation of flow instabilities. The dynamic signature of the flow was measured along with the elaboration of the compressor mapping.

Operational ranges of compressors are limited when running at low mass flow. In particular, large pressure fluctuations occur when reaching surge that can cause rapid deterioration of the bearing system and considerably increase the level of noise. In order to extent the operability of their turbochargers, Honeywell equipped its compressor housings with ported shrouds located at the inlet. The ported shroud has been demonstrated to allow a larger range of operability with minor negative impact on the compressor efficiency. In a collaborative work between Honeywell and the University of Cincinnati, a turbocharger bench facility was designed and tested. The size of the compressor was typical for a turbocharger used on diesel engines. The goal of the experimental study was to develop better understanding of the flow dynamic in the compressor housing that affects stall and surge for different operating conditions.

Surge is a phenomenon that limits the operational range of the compressor at low mass flow rates. The objective of this research is to study effective operational range for a ported shroud compressor. The size of the compressor is typical for a turbocharger used on diesel engines. To be able to extend the operational range, the surge characteristics have to be assessed. This is done by performing measurement of the flow at the inlet to the compressor wheel and pressure fluctuations at the inlet and outlet of the compressor housing. Detailed numerical computations of the flow in the entire compressor section under similar operating conditions have also been carried out. The experimental work includes Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) measurements of the instantaneous and mean velocity field at the inlet. At surge, low frequency pulsations are detected that seem to result from back flow already observed in stall.