Electric Turbocharger/Supercharger?

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by sendler

F1 cars are hybrids and it has become a fuel economy competition. They use a motor/ generator on the crank and another on the turbo...

So you're saying that after I convert the naturally-aspirated diesel in my Dasher to a mild hybrid by upgrading to a Buick Lacrosse/Impala altermotor, I can (with appropriately sized batteries, etc.) add an electric turbo to go full F1 ecomodder?

[JockoT]

A turbo uses exhaust energy to drive it. The f1 turbos also have a motor generator which, when the turbo is being driven hard, harvests electricity for their DRS. When the turbo slows, and "turbo lag" becomes a factor, then electricity is used to drive the turbo to keep the speed up. This is a method of developing power but at the expense of fuel. Yes, fuel economy is a factor in f1, but power is first and foremost the aim (as Honda will vouch). Electric superchargers, on the other hand, will give you power (or economy) without burning petrol, however they are hugely expensive and massively energy consuming. A plant I worked on used them, but they were 3 phase, 415 volt beasts with phenomenal start up current.

[sendler]

Originally Posted by JockoT

A turbo uses exhaust energy to drive it. The f1 turbos also have a motor generator which, when the turbo is being driven hard, harvests electricity for their DRS. .

This is the key aspect for fuel economy. No more waste gate. No more waste. Maximum energy in harvested from the exhaust gas at all times. Except when there is no exhaust gas. ie when first getting back on it out of a corner. Then the motor in the turbo is driven for a second to become an electric supercharger until the exhaust gas flow comes back to take over. Having the motor in the turbo is a big net gain in harvested energy on average.

[freebeard]

Thanks, I think KERS and stop/start will be enough for me. I'll be lucky to pull off the alternator swap alone, anyway.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Not sure if the good old 1.6D IDI on your Dasher is going to react so well to start-stop as a direct-injection might do.