Meanline Modeling of Radial Turbine Performance for Turbocharger Simulation and Diagnostic Applications 2013-01-0924

Simulation tools are currently extensively used to assist diesel engine development because they contribute to significant reduction of development cost and time. Given that currently the majority of DI diesel engines are turbocharged it is of vital importance the knowledge of Turbine and Compressor maps for successful prediction of engine performance. This data is often not available from T/C manufacturers, especially for the turbine. However, even if turbine maps are available, efficiency and mass flow characteristics span over a limited range of pressure ratio, due to limitations of conventional T/C test benches. Use of sophisticated T/C test bench equipment that allows measurements at a wider range of T/C pressure ratios results in increased hardware and labour cost.

An alternative solution is the development of physically based models for the turbine and the compressor. Towards this direction it is presented in the present work the development and first application of a new mean-line radial inflow turbine simulation model to estimate the characteristics of radial inflow turbines.

Following a detailed parametric investigation, the model is validated against experimental performance data of a variable geometry turbine. Derived results reveal that the model is capable to successfully reproduce, interpolate and extend the efficiency and mass flow characteristics of the turbine, requiring a minimal amount of turbine geometric dimensions, experimental data and calibration parameters for its tuning. Thus, strong indications exist that the proposed tool linked to engine performance simulation software can become a useful tool for engine performance and turbomatching calculations or diagnostic applications.