Thermodynamics Plays a Large Part in the System of a Turbocharger. Gas, Pressure, Temperature

Thermodynamics Thermodynamics plays a large part in the system of a turbocharger. Gas, pressure, temperature, and volume are all constantly changing, and their relationships can be seen through thermodynamic properties. The process that starts the turbocharger is the flow of exhaust gasses coming from the engine. The turbocharger is placed inline of the exhaust between the engine, and basically the open air. When the exhaust is released from the engine it is at a very high temperature and pressure. It travels to the exhaust turbine in the turbocharger, where it quickly wants to get to an area of less energy, which is on the other side of the turbine. This is the open side which is effectively at atmospheric temperature and at a relatively low temperature compared to the exhausted gas. The gas quickly expands and cools, causing the turbine to spin, and creating work. This work can then be used to spin the compressor turbine. In the opposite way the compressor turbine brings in fresh air, and by spinning at a very high speed compresses the air. We know that pressure and heat are proportional to one another, so as the gas is compressed its temperature also rises, by a large amount actually. This is a downside however because hotter air is less dense than cooler air, and therefore less air molecules per unit of volume will enter the engine, than would air at outside temperature. To solve this an intercooler is placed inline before the engine. This is a large metal container similar to a radiator. Outside air is able to pass by it cooling it, and effectively cooling the compressed gas inside. Now a large amount of air is able to reach the engine, thereby increasing the amount of gas fed to the engine, which increases power. The process of the turbocharger is almost an adiabatic process in which no heat enters or leaves a system. Therefore the change in energy of the gas equals the work done by it, and in that way the power increase can be found. However in reality there will be heat loss due to friction, and this will not be completely true, though it is a good estimator.