Turbocharger Nozzle Assembly with Rotating Ring for Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Variable geometry turbochargers are expensive and less reliable due to their complex moving components, while fixed geometry turbochargers lack the flexibility to adjust airflow according to changing engine loads, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle assembly with a ring-shaped body that can rotate around the nozzle, featuring blocking segments and openings, allowing for the adjustment of airflow by blocking or opening flow passages based on engine load, reducing the complexity of moving parts and enhancing flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable geometry turbochargers are used to adjust airflow according to engine load, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into multiple independent flow passages (first, second, third, and fourth flow passages) that can be individually controlled. Each flow passage can be independently blocked or opened by the movable nozzle assembly, allowing selective airflow control to different turbine blade groups. This segmentation enables adaptability without requiring complete variable geometry of the entire turbocharger system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If variable geometry turbochargers are used to adjust airflow according to engine load, then adaptability is improved, but reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the airflow control function from the turbine blades themselves and places it in a separate movable nozzle assembly. Instead of making the entire turbocharger variable geometry with multiple moving parts, only the nozzle assembly is made movable. This extraction isolates the complexity to a single component, improving overall system reliability while maintaining adaptability.
3Device complexity
If fixed geometry turbochargers are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle assembly is designed with movable components that can dynamically adjust the blocking of flow passages based on engine load conditions. The movable nozzle can shift positions to block different combinations of flow passages, transforming a static fixed-geometry turbocharger into a dynamic system that adapts to varying operational requirements without requiring full variable geometry complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle assembly of a turbocharger includes a nozzle and a ring-shaped body. The nozzle has flow passages extending through the nozzle and configured to direct air received from a volute housing of the turbocharger through the nozzle to turbine blades of the turbocharger. The ring-shaped body is coupled with the nozzle and is configured to rotate around the nozzle. The ring-shaped body includes blocking segments that block the flow of the air and openings between the blocking segments that permit the air to flow through the ring-shaped body. The ring-shaped body is configured to rotate relative to the nozzle to change how many of the flow passages in the nozzle are blocked by the blocking segments of the ring-shaped body.