Variable-geometry turbocharger

Variable-geometry turbochargers (VGTs), (also known as variable nozzle turbines/VNTs), are a family of turbochargers, usually designed to allow the effective aspect ratio (A:R) of the turbo to be altered as conditions change. This is done because optimum aspect ratio at low engine speeds is very different from that at high engine speeds. If the aspect ratio is too large, the turbo will fail to create boost at low speeds; if the aspect ratio is too small, the turbo will choke the engine at high speeds, leading to high exhaust manifold pressures, high pumping losses, and ultimately lower power output. By altering the geometry of the turbine housing as the engine accelerates, the turbo's aspect ratio can be maintained at its optimum. Because of this, VGTs have a minimal amount of lag, have a low boost threshold, and are very efficient at higher engine speeds. VGTs do not require a wastegate.

VGTs tend to be much more common on diesel engines as the lower exhaust temperatures mean they are less prone to failure. The few early gasoline-engine VGTs required significant pre-charge cooling to extend the turbocharger life to reasonable levels, but advances in material technology have improved their resistance to the high temperatures of gasoline engine exhaust and they have started to appear increasingly in, e.g., gasoline-engined sports cars.

The two most common implementations include a ring of aerodynamically-shaped vanes in the turbine housing at the turbine inlet. In general, for light-duty engines (passenger cars, race cars, and light commercial vehicles), the vanes rotate in unison to vary the gas swirl angle and the cross sectional area. In general, for heavy-duty engines, the vanes do not rotate, but instead the axial width of the inlet is selectively blocked by an axially sliding wall (either the vanes are selectively covered by a moving slotted shroud or the vanes selectively move vs a stationary slotted shroud). Either way, the area between the tips of the vanes changes, leading to a variable aspect ratio.

The vanes are controlled by a membrane vacuum actuator, electric servo actuation, 3-phase electric actuation, hydraulic actuator or air actuator using air-brake system pressure.

The invention introducing the VNT was developed under Garrett (Honeywell) (called Allied-Signal at the time). Several companies supply the rotating vane type of variable-geometry turbocharger, including Garrett (Honeywell), Borg Warner, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). The rotating vane design is mostly limited to small engines and/or to light-duty applications (passenger cars, race cars and light commercial vehicles). Main supplier of the sliding-vane-type of variable-geometry turbocharger is Cummins Turbo Technologies (Holset).

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Wikipedia