STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF SURGE BY IMPROVING THE DESIGN OF A TURBOCHARGER TEST RIG

Abstract

Surge is an unstable compressor operating mode characterized by sudden pressure surges and uneven air or gas delivery. This occurs when the pressure difference between the compressor inlet and outlet becomes too great. In turbocharged engines, this is often due to changing loads during operation, which disrupts the normal operation of the turbocharger pump and turbine wheels.

A series of measures to improve the turbocharger test rig's design focused on simulating real-world operating conditions and determining the limits of surge phenomena. The studies were conducted using the Polytec CLV-3D measuring system.

To record vibration characteristics, special ring elements were installed on the turbine shaft, pressed against the disk, through which vibrations were excited. The experimental results obtained confirmed the reproducibility of the method and allowed us to establish the correspondence of each identified mode to specific natural vibration frequencies. It is advisable to exclude the detected frequency ranges from the permissible operating conditions. The implementation of this approach is aimed at increasing the reliability and durability of the turbocharger by preventing operation in the surge zone.