How A Turbocharger Works
How the turbocharger works
A turbocharger is basically an air pump. Hot exhaust gases leaving the engine after
combustion are routed directly to the turbine wheel side of the turbocharger to make
it rotate up to 230,000 rpm. That turbine wheel is connected by a shaft to a compressor
wheel. As the turbine wheel spins faster and faster, it causes the compressor wheel to
also spin quickly. The rotation of the compressor wheel pulls in ambient air and compresses
it before pumping it into the engine's chambers.
Many systems will incorporate a cooler between the compressor and the cylinder, as the compressed
air, moving at such high speed, can reach extremely high temperatures.
Not As Easy As It Looks
The basic principal behind turbocharging is fairly simple, but a turbocharger is a very complex
piece of machinery. Not only must the components within the turbocharger itself be precisely
coordinated, but the turbocharger and the engine it services must also be exactly matched.
If they're not, engine inefficiency and even damage can be the results. That's why it's
important to follow correct installation, operating and preventative maintenance procedures.
