Design and Analysis of a Novel Split Sliding Variable Nozzle for Turbocharger Turbine

Variable geometry turbine (VGT) has been widely applied in internal combustion engines to improve engine transient response and torque at light load. One of the most popular VGTs is the variable nozzle turbine (VNT) in which the nozzle vanes can be rotated along the pivoting axis and thus the flow passage through the nozzle can be adjusted to match with different engine operating conditions. One disadvantage of the VNT is the turbine efficiency degradation due to the leakage flow in the nozzle endwall clearance, especially at small nozzle open condition. With the purpose to reduce the nozzle leakage flow and to improve turbine stage efficiency, a novel split sliding variable nozzle turbine (SSVNT) has been proposed. In the SSVNT design, the nozzle is divided into two parts: one part is fixed and the other part can move along the partition surface. When sliding the moving vane to large radius position, the nozzle flow passage opens up and the turbine has high flow capacity. When sliding the moving vane to small radius position, the nozzle flow passage closes down and the turbine has low flow capacity. As the fixed vane does not need endwall clearance, the leakage flow through the nozzle can be reduced. Based on calibrated numerical simulation, there is up to 12% turbine stage efficiency improvement with the SSVNT design at small nozzle open condition while maintaining the same performance at large nozzle open condition. The mechanism of efficiency improvement in the SSVNT design has been discussed.