Turbocharger Compressor Housing with Thermo-Decoupled Cooling Pocket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbocharger compressor sections face challenges in cooling, leading to reduced operating efficiency due to heat generation during operation.
Innovation Solution
A turbocharger compressor section with a water-cooled housing featuring a cooling pocket for coolant reception and a thermo-decoupled pocket that isolates the coolant from upstream areas, preventing heat transfer and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling pocket is added to the compressor housing, then cooling efficiency is improved, but heat transfer to upstream areas worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor housing is segmented into distinct thermal zones using a thermo-decoupling pocket that divides the housing into a cooled downstream section and a warm upstream section. This segmentation prevents heat transfer between zones while allowing localized cooling where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermo-decoupling pocket acts as an intermediary barrier between the cooling pocket and the upstream flow passage area. It mediates thermal interaction by providing thermal isolation, allowing the cooling system to function without adversely affecting upstream areas.
2Productivity
If the compressor housing is water-cooled, then operating efficiency is improved, but complexity of the cooling system worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cooling the entire compressor housing uniformly, the cooling pocket provides localized cooling only to the downstream area where heat generation occurs. This local quality approach improves operating efficiency while minimizing the complexity and resource requirements of the cooling system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the thermo-decoupling pocket is fluidly connected to exterior area, then thermal isolation is improved, but risk of contamination worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The thermo-decoupling pocket uses ambient air from the exterior as a temporary, disposable thermal barrier. This air provides effective thermal isolation for the upstream area while being easily replaceable, minimizing contamination risks compared to sealed, permanent barriers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively increases the operating efficiency of the turbocharger by providing localized cooling to downstream areas while preventing heat transfer to upstream regions, thereby improving performance.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling pocket is configured to receive a coolant for cooling the compressor housing
Implementation Method 2
The thermo-decoupling pocket is disposed between the cooling pocket and the upstream area of the flow passage to prevent heat transfer to the upstream area
Data Source
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AI summary
A compressor section includes a compressor wheel and a compressor housing that surrounds the compressor wheel. The compressor housing includes a flow passage with an upstream area. The compressor section also includes a cooling pocket that is defined within the compressor housing. The cooling pocket is configured to receive a coolant for cooling the compressor housing. Furthermore, the compressor section includes a thermo-decoupling pocket that is defined within the compressor housing. The thermo-decoupling pocket is disposed between the cooling pocket and the upstream area of the flow passage. The thermo-decoupling pocket is fluidly connected to an exterior area outside the compressor housing and/or fluidly disconnected from the flow passage.