What are the types of engine turbocharging?

[GiaLynn]

There are several types of engine turbocharging: 1. Mechanical supercharging system: Installed on the engine and connected to the engine crankshaft via a belt, it derives power from the engine output shaft to drive the supercharger's rotor, thereby pressurizing air into the intake manifold; 2. Pressure wave supercharging system: Utilizes the pulse pressure waves of high-pressure exhaust gases to force air compression, offering excellent supercharging and acceleration performance, but the entire setup is relatively bulky and less suitable for installation in smaller vehicles; 3. Exhaust gas turbocharging system: The turbocharger has no mechanical connection with the engine and essentially functions as an air compressor, increasing air intake by compressing air; 4. Compound supercharging system: Combines exhaust gas turbocharging and mechanical supercharging, where mechanical supercharging aids torque output at low speeds but has limited power output at high speeds, while exhaust gas turbocharging delivers strong power output at high speeds.

[Polly]

Ordinary drivers like us care most about whether the engine power is sufficient, and turbocharging is a great helper in boosting performance. The most common type is single turbocharging, which has a simple structure and low cost, making it widely used in family cars—like my 1.5T model. It has a slight delay at startup but offers strong power once it gets going. Twin turbocharging comes in parallel and sequential configurations. For example, BMW's 3.0T uses two small parallel turbos to virtually eliminate lag, while diesel cars often use a sequential setup with a small turbo engaging first before switching to a larger one, delivering rapid acceleration. In recent years, variable geometry turbos (VGT) have gained popularity, adjusting blade angles to suit different RPMs—Porsche Cayenne employs this technology. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz's new electric turbo is quite innovative, using an electric motor to drive the turbine, allowing power delivery even at idle speeds, making stop-and-go traffic much smoother.

[MacAlice]

Having been in the car modification business for over a decade, I'm well-versed in turbocharger types. The basic single-turbo setup is commonly seen, but we car enthusiasts mainly focus on twin-turbo configurations: Parallel twin-turbos are often used in V-type engines, with each exhaust manifold driving a turbo, offering 30% faster response than single turbos; Sequential twin-turbos are common in diesel heavy trucks, where a small turbo handles low RPMs and a large turbo manages high RPMs, delivering maximum torque throughout the range. The most technologically advanced is undoubtedly the variable geometry turbo (VTG as Porsche calls it), where movable vanes in the turbine housing adjust airflow angles, eliminating lag at low city speeds while maintaining full power output at high speeds. Recently, we even modified an electric turbo for a client, completely solving turbo lag, though it does drain the battery quickly.

[McCassandra]

From the perspective of auto mechanics, turbocharging primarily depends on the drive method. Exhaust gas turbochargers are the most common, utilizing the energy from engine exhaust to spin the turbine. They offer significant modification potential but suffer from lag at low RPMs. Superchargers are belt-driven from the engine crankshaft, providing immediate power response. Jaguar XJL once used this type, though it comes with higher fuel consumption. Hybrid turbocharging is rare nowadays, where both exhaust gas turbo and supercharger work simultaneously, like in Volkswagen's 1.4T Twincharger engine. Electric turbocharging is the new trend, driven by 48V motors. Audi's SQ7 system boasts zero lag, though its maintenance cost rivals half an engine. There's also compound turbocharging, which combines exhaust gas and electric turbos in series, a technology currently being tested in Volvo's Polestar models.

[McBrody]

As an automotive technology enthusiast, I am fascinated by the mechanical aesthetics of turbocharging. The single-turbo structure, like the classic Volkswagen EA888 engine, increases power limits by enlarging the turbo size, but turbo lag is noticeable. The twin-turbo solution is smarter: the parallel configuration allows two identical turbos to serve separate groups of cylinders, with the BMW N54 engine perfectly showcasing the exhilarating power of this design; the sequential setup uses a small and large turbo working in tandem, enabling diesel engines to deliver terrifying torque. The most ingenious is the variable geometry turbo, where Porsche's VTG technology adjusts the angle of the guide vanes, allowing the turbo to operate efficiently across the entire 1500-6500 rpm range. The future belongs to electric turbos, with the Porsche 911 hybrid using an electric motor to drive the turbo, completely eliminating lag.