| Competition is increasing in the
turbocharger market. More companies are developing new technologies to
help downsize engines.
The market for passenger car turbos has traditionally been served mainly
by Honeywell, BorgWarner and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The companies
have profited from the increase in turbo diesels over the past decade.
Siemens VDO and Mahle are joining them in developing specialist turbos
for gasoline applications with higher exhaust temperatures of up to 1,050°C.
Siemens VDO group vice-president Dr Klaus Egger said: “We’re
focusing on systems integration for gasoline applications – the
turbo won’t be standalone.”
VDO’s system uses some novel form of actuation. Drawing on mother
company Siemens’ experience in power generation, engineers have
focused on bearing and turbine design to reduce costs, rather than rely
on expensive materials.
Mahle’s mechatronic turbos will use cast steel for the turbine housing
and manifold, and nickel super-alloys for the turbine wheel.
Honeywell is working on variable geometry turbos (VGTs) for gasoline engines.
The technology will differ from its diesel VGTs, which use rotating vents.
The firm declined to disclose details.
Marketing director David Paja said: “We’ll start production
in 2010. Gasoline VGTs will come in gradually in over the next five years.”
VGTs suit downsized gasoline engines where transient response at low rpm
is the issue.
© Automotive Engineer, 2007 |
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