Turbocharger Turbine Guide Vane Gap Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbulence in the gap between the housing wall and the plate in turbochargers leads to increased heat transfer and pressure loss, resulting in inefficiencies in the turbine.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of guide vanes in the gap between the inner circumferential wall and the plate, which guide the exhaust gas radially outward and circumferentially downstream, preventing turbulence and reducing heat and pressure losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the gap between the housing wall and the plate is maintained for structural simplicity, then manufacturing is easier, but turbulence occurs causing increased heat loss and pressure loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat loss and pressure lossVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Guide vanes are introduced as intermediary elements within the gap between the housing wall and the plate. These guide vanes redirect the flow of exhaust gas, preventing direct inflow into the gap region and thereby reducing turbulence-induced heat loss and pressure loss without requiring structural modifications to the housing or plate themselves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If guide vanes are added to the gap to prevent exhaust gas inflow, then heat loss and pressure loss are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturbine efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Guide vanes are strategically positioned only in specific regions where exhaust gas inflow into the gap occurs, rather than implementing a complete sealing structure throughout. This localized approach addresses the turbulence problem in critical areas while minimizing the overall number of components and structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 guide vanes effectively suppress the inflow of exhaust gas into the gap, thereby reducing heat and pressure losses, enhancing the efficiency of the turbine by minimizing turbulence and heat transfer.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one guide vane includes: a first end; and a second end disposed radially on an outer side of the first end and circumferentially downstream of the first end in the exhaust gas flow direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow guidance:

Data Source

PatentEP3705697B1Turbine and turbocharger
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER LTD
  • EP3705697B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3705697B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3705697B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A turbine includes: a turbine impeller; a housing disposed so as to enclose the turbine impeller and including a scroll passage positioned on an outer circumferential side of the turbine impeller; a nozzle vane disposed inside an intermediate flow passage which is positioned, in an exhaust gas flow direction, on a downstream side of the scroll passage and on an upstream side of the turbine impeller; a plate disposed on a side of the intermediate flow passage with respect to an inner circumferential wall part of the housing, defining an inner circumferential boundary of the scroll passage, so as to face the intermediate flow passage such that a gap is formed between the plate and the inner circumferential wall part in an axial direction; and at least one guide vane disposed in the gap between the inner circumferential wall part and the plate in the axial direction. The at least one guide vane includes: a first end; and a second end disposed radially on an outer side of the first end and circumferentially downstream of the first end in the exhaust gas flow direction.