Turbocharger — principle of operation (Peugeot 605)

Diesel vehicles listed in this manual are equipped with an exhaust gas-driven turbocharger. In the turbocharger, two turbine wheels are installed on one shaft, which are located in housings separated from each other. The wheel drive is provided by exhaust gases. They bring the compressor shaft speed up to 120,000 rpm. Since the rotor, driven by the outgoing exhaust gases, and the intake air rotor sit on the same shaft, atmospheric air is forced into the combustion chambers of the cylinders at the same frequency.

Due to the good fill factor in existing engines, power gains of up to 100% can be achieved. Depending on the type of engine, the use of a turbocharger also increases the torque. The degree of this increase depends, among other things, on the charge air pressure, which in a passenger car is between 0.4 and 0.8 bar. The charge air pressure can be controlled and regulated by the engine control unit via a solenoid valve, or air can only be blown through a pressure reducing valve.

Between the turbocharger and the air intake, there may be a charge air cooling radiator, which reduces the temperature of the air compressed by the compressor. This increases engine power, because the cooled air has a higher oxygen content due to its high density.

In contrast to an internal combustion engine, vehicles with a turbocharged diesel engine do not need to reduce the normal compression, which allows full use of the injected fuel even in the low engine speed range.

The turbocharger is an extremely precisely manufactured unit. As a rule, in the event of a malfunction, the turbocharger is replaced completely.