• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.7
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2018

The turbochargers, which are used widely in diesel and gasoline engines, are an effective device to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. On the other hand, turbo-lag is one of the main problems of a turbocharger. Bearing friction losses is a major cause of turbo lag and is particularly intense in the lower speed range of the engine. Current turbochargers are mostly equipped with floating bearings: two journal bearings and one thrust bearing. This study focused on the bearing friction at the lower speed range and the experimental equipment was established with a drive-motor, load-cell, magnetic coupling, and oil control system. Finally, the friction losses of turbochargers were measured considering the influence of the rotating speed from 30,000rpm to 90,000rpm, oil temperature from $50^{\circ}C$ to $100^{\circ}C$, and oil supply pressure of 3bar and 4bar. The friction power losses were increased exponentially to 1.6 when the turbocharger speed was increased. Friction torques decreased with increasing oil temperature and increased with increasing oil pressure. Therefore, the oil temperature and pressure must be maintained at appropriate levels.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.585-591
• /
• 2017

Turbocharging is widely used in diesel and gasoline engines as an effective way to reduce fuel consumption. But turbochargers have turbo-lag due to mechanical friction losses. Bearing friction losses are a major cause of mechanical friction losses and are particularly intensified in the lower speed range of the engine. Current turbochargers mostly use oil bearings (two journal bearings and one thrust bearing). In this study, we focus on the bearing friction in the lower speed range. Experimental equipment was made using a drive motor, load cell, magnetic coupling, and oil control system. We measured the friction losses of the turbocharger while considering the influence of the rotation speed, oil temperature, and pressure. The friction power losses increased exponentially when the turbocharger speed increased.