Historically, the power of a car’s engine was dependent on the number and size of cylinders – today, that’s a thing of the past! Electronic engine control, turbochargers or compressors are responsible for the overall performance. The turbocharger has a particularly important role—a Swiss invention dating back to 1925, the turbocharger was used to considerably increase engine power. What distinguishes this component, why is it increasingly important and what are the benefits of using electrochemical machining? —Five interesting facts about turbochargers:
- Unaltered Basic Principle
The basic principle of the nearly 100-year old invention remains the same today. The exhaust stream drives a turbine wheel, which is connected to a second wheel over a shaft. This wheel compresses the fresh air that is sucked in and presses it into the combustion chambers. The following simple calculation applies here: The more air ends up in the combustion chamber, the more oxygen molecules are connected to the hydrocarbon molecules during combustion—and this is precisely what provides more power.
- Almost 300,000 Revolutions
In the end, the purpose of the turbocharger is to achieve the optimal effect by generating the highest possible air pressure. This means that the unit achieves extremely high performance values: In modern engines, the compressor wheel completes 290,000 revolutions per minute. The component is also subjected to extremely high temperatures – which is why turbocharger models also have connections or systems to water-cool the charge air. This means that four different substances come together within this component: hot exhaust gases, cold charge air, cooling water and oil (which by the way may not become too hot).
