Turbochargers are paving the way for a greener future in the automobile industry – but have you ever wondered about its history? Below, we take a look back at the birth of the forced induction system and how turbochargers came to be.
From Forced Induction to Turbocharger
Pioneered by Gottlieb Daimler in 1885, the first-ever patented forced induction model utilised a gear-driven pump to force air into an internal combustion engine. The high pressures within the engine resulted in increased engine power and efficiency, and this provided the automotive and aviation industry with a viable alternative to the naturally aspirated engine.
In 1905, Swiss engineer Alfred Büchi received a patent for using a compressor driven by exhaust gases to force air into an internal combustion engine, and so, the turbocharger was born.
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This technology was further improved upon and tested in 1918. General Electric engineer Sanford Alexander Moss attached a turbocharger to a V12 Liberty aircraft engine flying at 14,000 ft to demonstrate that turbochargers had the potential to eliminate power loss usually experienced in internal combustion engines as a result of reduced air pressure and density at high altitude.
The system was dubbed turbosupercharging as, at the time, all forced induction devices were known as superchargers. Ships and locomotives equipped with turbocharged diesel engines began appearing in the 1920s, but it would be a while before turbochargers were widely adopted in cars due to the cost of high-temperature metals required for the turbines.
Today, companies like Honeywell, Borg Warner and Mitsubishi are the largest manufacturers of turbochargers in Europe and the United States. Growing environmental awareness and increasing oil prices requiring higher fuel efficiency in engines have enabled widespread use of turbochargers in cars.
What’s Next for Turbochargers?
The market for turbochargers shows no signs of slowing down – consumers are now more environmentally conscious, and many opt for turbocharged cars for the environmental benefits they provide. Global turbocharging penetration is expected to grow to 36% in 2016 [1]. Furthermore, electric turbochargers that help to reduce turbo lag, a problem common in conventional turbocharged engines, are gaining momentum. Indeed, the future of turbochargers looks increasingly green and bright.
[1] A Greener Future. (2011, December 15). Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://turbo.honeywell.com/turbo-basics/a-greener-future/
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