Unsteady performance of a double entry turbocharger turbine with a comparison to steady flow conditions

Circumferentially divided, double-entry turbocharger turbines are designed with a dividing wall parallel to the machine axis such that each entry feeds a separate 180° section of the nozzle circumference prior to entry into the rotor. This allows the exhaust pulses originating from the internal combustion exhaust to be preserved. Since the turbine is fed by two separate unsteady flows, the phase difference between the exhaust pulses entering the turbine rotor will produce a momentary imbalance in the flow conditions around the periphery of the turbine rotor. This research seeks to provide new insight into the impact of unsteadiness on turbine performance. The discrepancy between the pulsed flow behaviour and that predicted by a typical steady flow performance map is a central issue considered in this work. In order to assess the performance deficit attributable to unequal admission, the steady flow conditions introduced in one inlet were varied with respect to the other. The results from these tests were then compared to unsteady, in-phase and out-of-phase pulsed flow most representative of the actual engine operating condition.