The history of turbochargers

THE HISTORY OF THE HISTORY OF TURBOCHARGERSTURBOCHARGERS

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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.



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. 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.

From Forced Induction to

Turbocharger


The system was dubbed turbo super charging, 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.

From Forced Induction to

Turbocharger


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.

What’s Next for

Turbochargers?

Automotive

The history of turbochargers