An Experimental and Modeling Strategy for Obtaining Complete Characteristic Maps of Dual-Volute Radial Inflow Turbines

Abstract

Despite the importance of turbocharged engines with dual-volute turbines, their characteristic maps and fully predictive modeling using 1D gas dynamic codes are not well established yet. The complexity of unsteady flow and the unequal admission of these turbines, when operating with pulses of engine exhaust gas, makes them a challenging system. This is mainly due to the unequal flow admission, which generates an additional degree-of-freedom with respect to well-known single entry vanned or vaneless turbines. This paper has as the main novelty a simple procedure for characterizing experimentally and elaborating characteristic maps of these turbines with unequal flow conditions. This method of analysis allows for easy interpolation within the proposed characteristic maps or conceiving simple models for calculating and extrapolating full performance parameters of dual-volute turbines. Two innovative 0D mean-line models are described that require a minimum quantity of experimental data for calibrating both: the mass flow parameter model and the isentropic efficiency model. Both models are predictive either in partial or unequal flow conditions using as inputs: the mass flow ratio and the total temperature ratio between branches; the blade speed ratio and the pressure ratio in each branch. These six inputs are generally instantaneously provided by 1D gas-dynamics codes. Therefore, the novelty of the model is its ability to be used in a quasi-steady way for dual volute turbines performance prediction. This can be done instantaneously when turbines are calculated operating at turbocharged engines under pulsating and unequal flow conditions.