Turbocharger turbine performance under steady and unsteady flow: test bed analysis and correlation criteria

Turbocharging is becoming a key technology for both gasoline and diesel automotive engines. A thorough knowledge of turbine behaviour under steady and unsteady flow conditions is a fundamental requirement for the improvement of engine performance, particularly in transient operation. To this end, a great deal of information can be obtained from investigations developed on dedicated test facilities. This paper presents a new arrangement of the turbocharger test rig operating at the University of Genoa. The results of an extensive experimental programme, focusing on the behaviour of the turbocharger regulating system, on turbine pulsating flow performance and its correlation criteria with steady flow results, are then analysed.