Determination of heat flows inside turbochargers by means of a one dimensional lumped model

Abstract In the present paper, a methodology to calculate the heat fluxes inside a turbocharger from diesel passenger car is presented. The heat transfer phenomenon is solved by using a one dimensional lumped model that takes into account both the heat fluxes between the different turbocharger elements, as well as the heat fluxes between the working fluids and the turbocharger elements. This heat transfer study is supported by the high temperature differences between the working fluids passing through a typical diesel turbocharger. These flows are the hot exhaust gases coming from the diesel engine exhaust passing through the turbine, the fresh air taken by the compressor, and the lubrication oil passing through the housing. The model has been updated to be used with a new generation of passenger car turbochargers using an extra element in the heat transfer phenomenon that is the water cooling circuit. This procedure allows separating the aerodynamic from the heat transfer effects, permitting to study the behavior of compressor and turbine in a separated way.