Multi-Inlet Turbine Design for Partial Admission Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional turbocharger designs fail to account for the unequal mass flow rates and pressures at multiple gas inlets, leading to energy losses due to partial admission and unsteady flow, which affects turbine efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method to design a turbine by obtaining time series data characterizing turbine power at each gas inlet volute, calculating isentropic power, and using isentropic-power weighted parameters to determine a design point, which is then used to optimize turbine parameters such as reaction value to enhance efficiency, particularly by filtering data points based on scroll pressure ratios and iteratively varying design parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional turbocharger designs are used with multiple gas inlets, then the turbine can handle exhaust from multiple cylinders, but energy losses occur due to partial admission and unsteady flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using isentropic-power weighted parameters (expansion ratio and scroll pressure ratio) derived from time-series data to optimize turbine design parameters. This transforms the design approach from static to dynamic, accounting for unsteady flow conditions and partial admission effects, thereby reducing energy losses while maintaining power output.
2Ease of manufacture
If equal admission is assumed for design purposes, then the design process is simplified, but the design does not account for actual unequal mass flow rates and pressures at different inlets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by obtaining and analyzing time-series data characterizing turbine power and isentropic power at each gas inlet volute before finalizing the design. This preliminary analysis of actual operating conditions (unequal mass flow rates and pressures) informs the selection of weighted mean parameters, ensuring the design accurately reflects real-world partial admission conditions while maintaining a systematic design process.
3Power
If the turbine is optimized for peak power conditions, then maximum power is achieved, but efficiency is reduced during other operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using isentropic-power weighted parameters that inherently account for the distribution of power across different operating conditions. The weighting scheme provides feedback on the relative importance of different operating points, leading to a design that balances peak power performance with efficiency across the full operating range, rather than optimizing for a single peak condition.
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
This approach results in a turbine design that improves efficiency by optimizing parameters to match high turbine power delivery at equal flow conditions, reducing energy losses associated with partial admission and unsteady flow.
Implementation Method 1
a power turbine, which uses the rotational energy of a rotor driven by a fluid to do useful work
Implementation Method 2
exhaust gas driven turbine wheel mounted on a rotatable shaft within a turbine housing
Implementation Method 3
Rotation of the turbine wheel rotates a compressor wheel mounted on the other end of the shaft within a compressor housing. The compressor wheel delivers compressed air to an engine inlet manifold.
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine with multiple gas inlets is designed by a process of, for a given engine, obtaining time series data characterizing the power bias of the engine, obtaining an isentropic power associated with each data point of the time series, and using the isentropic powers to obtain a design point. The turbine is then designed based on the design point, such as by optimising one or more design parameters of the turbine based on the design point.