Researchers Develop A Turbocharger Booster System To Expand The Operating Range

摘要

In the natural gas pipeline industry, tur-bochargers are used on two-stroke cycle engines to create an in-cylinder lean air-to-fuel mixture by increasing the trapped air mass. The end result is, theoretically, decreased engine pollutant emissions. However, the laws of physics coupled with environmental operating parameters typically constrain the turbocharger operating range. A constrained turbocharger operating range then limits overall engine operating flexibility. That is changing. Recent work is broadening the operating limits.rnResearchers at the Kansas State University National Gas Machinery Laboratory, with funding from the Pipeline Research Council International, Inc. (PRCI), have developed a turbocharger booster system (TuBS) that increases the exhaust gas temperature before it enters the turbocharger turbine. This enhancement expands the turbocharger operating range by decoupling it from engine conditions. This decoupling allows the turbocharger to provide adequate air flow even during low-load engine operating or during hot ambient conditions. With this boosting technology, operators can potentially avoid expensive and oversized turbochargers.rnThis article explains the operating limitations of the standard turbocharger, the patent-pending TuBS design, laboratory test results and the ongoing field test.