Turbocharger Catalytic Converter: Innovative Combination of Turbocharger and Catalytic Converter Technology

Authors

Dipl.-Ing. R.Brück, Dipl.-Ing. T. Härig, Continental Emitec GmbH, Lohmar;
Dr.-Ing. J. Ehrhard, S. Slavic MSc, Continental AG, Regensburg

Year

2019

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Reihe 12, Nr. 811

Summary

“Unrestricted clean mobility” is the goal behind the development of future drive systems for passenger cars. The focus here is on achieving robust exhaust-gas aftertreatment in the entire performance map range while also reducing CO₂, supported by electrification is of primary importance. High-efficiency turbocharged combustion engines with compact catalytic converter technology and an ultra-modern control system are the fundamental prerequisite for achieving this goal.
An integrated unit made up of the turbocharger and catalytic converter facilitates the extremely compact structure of a new, innovative catalytic converter system. At the same time, relocating the wastegate valve and the turbine outlet makes it possible to increase the turbocharger’s efficiency.
At the high load point, a perfect mixture of the wastegate flow with the main exhaust gas mass flow leads to a reduction in the local peak temperatures on the catalytic converter, thanks to which the lambda 1 engine characteristic can be expanded.
The cross-functional development of the turbocharger catalytic converter allows, for the first time, all requirements to which the turbocharger, catalytic converter system, sensors and engine control unit are taken into account so that future emission limit values can be complied with reliably.
This article describes the development of the turbocharger with an integrated catalytic converter, from the design phase through to testing on the engine test bench. In addition to CFD simulations of the turbocharger and the catalytic converter, measurements of efficiency, pressure loss and flow distributions are shown.