Bionic design of turbocharger volute based on spiral shells Neverita didyma improving turbine performance

Abstract: The performance of the supercharger volute directly affects the overall efficiency and capability of the turbocharger. It is important to improve the efficiency and performance of the turbocharger by reducing the flow resistance and decreasing the energy loss of the volute. Many measures are taken to improve the efficiency of the volute. Ocean spiral shells have evolved to reduce fluid resistance and cut down fluid energy loss during motion. In this paper, the spiral shell was taken as the biomimetic prototype, and the cavity data of the spiral shells were obtained by reverse engineering technology. The internal cavity cross-section data of shells were extracted in the range of 270 degrees. After the cross-section curves were optimized, they were taken as the section curves to construct the bionic volute. And then the volute bionic surface design was realized. The computational models of the prototype and bionic supercharger were finished. Taking the turbocharger volute of the gasoline engine with 1.5-liter displacement as the research object, the numerical analysis method was used to realize the performance difference between the bionic volute and the prototype volute. First, the prototype numerical model’s reliability was verified. Then the bionic volute was matched with the prototype turbine system. The numerical simulation of the bionic volute and the prototype volute was carried out in the range of common working conditions, and the difference between the two was explored from the microscopic flow field. During the modeling process, the A/R values of the two turbine volutes were the same, and the outlet width of the volute was consistent with the outlet diameter. The verification test was carried out on a QYZ-2 turbocharger test bench. The inlet flow of the compressor was measured by a double-line flowmeter, and the maximum measurement error was less than 2% FS. Both the inlet and the outlet of the compressor were provided with a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. The turbine inlet was provided with a turbine inlet pressure sensor and an intake temperature sensor, and the turbine outlet had a turbine exhaust pressure sensor and an exhaust temperature sensor in the extension duct. The maximum error of the pressure sensor was less than 2.5% FS, and the maximum error of the temperature sensor was less than 3% FS. The maximum error of the simulation calculation was within the allowable range. The simulation results showed that the simulation model was in good agreement with the test bench, and has good reliability. Therefore, the numerical model can meet the requirements of subsequent research. In the simulation, 12×104, 16×104 and 20×104 r/min were selected to represent the low, medium and high operation speed of turbine respectively. The evaluation parameters included turbine efficiency, flow characteristics and total volute loss coefficient. The results showed that the turbine flow capacity increases with the increase of the expansion ratio increase. And the turbine flow characteristics of the two volutes were basically the same. The results showed that the turbine efficiency can be increased by 3% and by up to 5% under the condition of keeping the same turbine flow capacity matching two volutes. The flow field analysis results showed that the bionic optimization volute reduces the flow loss near the inner surface of the volute and the airflow friction in the flow channel. And the flow resistance was small, the whole flow in the bionic volute was smooth and uniform, and there was no swirling flow. Therefore, the turbine efficiency can be significantly improved. The bionic design method used in this paper had a significant improvement on turbocharger turbine performance, and can provide reference and method innovation for the design and optimization of automotive and agricultural machinery turbocharging systems.