COMPRESSOR STAGE OF A TURBOCHARGER WITH FLOW AMPLIFIER

摘要

An energy recovery system and method is provided for the compressor stage of a turbocharger during surge avoidance operation. The compressor stage includes a housing defining an inlet, an inlet chamber, a diffuser and a volute. A flow amplifier is provided in the compressor housing or in a separate element. If the compressor stage is operating near a surge condition, charge air from a system charge air source is routed to the flow amplifier which discharges the air substantially along the inner peripheral surface of the inlet chamber in a downstream direction relative to the air intake flow direction. The charge air is supplied in a substantially annular manner at an increased velocity such that at least a portion of the intake air flow is entrained by the charge air so as to increase the velocity of the air toward the compressor wheel and recovering energy of the charge air.

主权项

1. A compressor stage (50) for a turbocharger (100) comprising:
a compressor housing (52) defining at least in part an inlet (54), an inlet chamber (56), a diffuser (58) and a volute (60); and a flow amplifier (64) having an inlet (68) and an outlet (70), the outlet (70) being configured to discharge fluid substantially along an inner peripheral surface (57) of the compressor housing (52), the outlet (70) being oriented in a downstream direction relative to the direction (76) of fluid flow in the inlet chamber (56), and the flow amplifier (64) being configured to increase the velocity of air discharged from the outlet (70).