A methodology to study oil-coking problem in small turbochargers

Abstract

In compliance with oncoming emission directives, turbocharging and increasing complexity in the turbocharger system demands a great effort from researchers on the development of effective procedures and tools to cope with the new technological exigencies. This article describes a methodology for studying oil-coking influence in turbocharger performance. A preliminary evaluation and calibration is done. The aim of this work focuses on the development of methodologies and tools that help to evaluate and understand the consequences that degraded oils can generate in the bearing system during enhanced oil-coking procedure. Several experimental tests have been carried out in an engine test bench and using an independent lubrication system that only feeds the turbocharger. The test campaign is done under a specific engine cycle and using oil artificially contaminated at two different levels. The work is divided into two parts. The first part provides a description and definition of test conditions for measuring of the maximum temperature in the bearing system and the second part tackles the measurement and post-processing of the main instantaneous parameters defining the engine and turbocharger behavior.