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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: Turbinepowered on November 14, 2006, 07:52:18 pm

Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: Turbinepowered on November 14, 2006, 07:52:18 pm
I'm in the midst of planning a build for the 2L I5 diesel that's slated to be transplanted into my Quantum Syncro.

While I'm not out for ultimate power or insane levels of boost, I am shooting for good boost low in the RPM range and consistent delivery all the way through the band, kept at a moderate (~15-20 psi?) level for good power.

Seems to me that the best way to get boost early on and later would be to go for a properly sized compounded setup, with a high-pressure turbo that spools up easily enough to practically be spooled up from idle and a low-pressure turbo that really hits its stride at the upper boost limit.

I've gone through the various threads on this site about compounded turbo setups, most of them seem geared for serious power, but I'm more targetting staying in the prime efficiency ranges for the turbos involved for longevity and efficiency.

I already have McInnes' book on the way; any other suggested resources? Thoughts? Am I bat-*** nuts?
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: Slave2School on November 14, 2006, 07:53:53 pm
As crazy as this sounds if you only want 20psi maybe a vnt-17 modified to fit your engine wouldn't be a bad thing.  There are non-manifold integrated versions out there to be had that might be adapted to fit your set up.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: vwmike on November 14, 2006, 08:10:10 pm
I'd second that. If all you want is quick spool and moderate boost pressure then a VNT is the way to go.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: jtanguay on November 14, 2006, 08:44:29 pm
to learn more about Jake's VNT rabbit project go here:

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1306&highlight=vnt+rabbit

its amazing information.  the 1.6 engine made boost at idle even!

check out Named Tintin's VNT controller... closes the vanes as you push the pedal, and a waste gate opens the vanes as the boost rises to the set psi.  pretty neat setup!

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2848&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=vnt&start=30
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: jackbombay on November 14, 2006, 09:26:58 pm
It would be very hard to fit 2 turbos between the engine and passenger side fender since the engine is pushed to the side a bit with teh side mount radiator set-up.

   I'd just run a VNT 17 or 20, the 20's can be had for a decent price new from KERMA, and hopefully you'd only need an adapter plate to make it mate-up to the stock exhaust mani.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: Turbinepowered on November 15, 2006, 06:13:25 pm
Yeah, 20 or so PSI is all I'm after. Enough for it to be a good puller, but nothing insane or overly stressing either.

Go VNT you say? I suppose... I thought about it at first, but rigging up a vane controller looked to be bothersome, and I really don't want to add a computer to this thing (Well, I do, but that's a project for another day and time...). Unfortunately, I don't speak French, though TinTin's controller pictures look interesting enough. Have to see if he can explain it to me in English.

What's the difference, overall, between a 15, 17 and 20 VNT turbo? I'm looking for flow maps, but somehow I get the feeling they'll be more complicated because of the mobile vanes within...
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: vwmike on November 15, 2006, 06:34:49 pm
A turbine map would be more complex but the compressor still has a fixed aspect ratio so sizing really isn't anymore complicated. There are some compressor maps available on the garrett site but they should be used as a guidline as not all turbos have the same wheels. Typically they are tweaked by the manufacturer to better suit the specific application.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: jackbombay on November 15, 2006, 07:03:18 pm
I've seen maps for 15s and 20s, but a map hasn't been released for the 17, I searched for a while...
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: rabbid79 on November 15, 2006, 09:50:35 pm
If you have the turbo diesel exhaust manifold, I think the VNT-20 will bolt right up.  I don't think you'll need an adapter.
I wouldn't bother with the 15 or 17, since I've never seen any of them that have the same style exhaust flange that would be compatible with the factory TD exhaust manifold.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: Turbinepowered on November 15, 2006, 09:59:32 pm
Well, I'll be searching for a new exhaust manifold for this engine anyway; the one that's on it is trashed. Looks like someone took a hammer to one end, big dent just past the #5 cylinder flange.  And it's nastily rusted, too; easier to replace than repair, I suppose.

Reading Jake's thread (And being so oh my god I wish I were here sooner the entire time), it seems like the VNT15 would almost be enough turbo for the boost and performance I want? Boost at idle is a really, really attractive prospect... instaspool!

The VNT has definitely taken forefront in my mind now over the compounds, even with the tales of control issues.

I'm guessing, from the fact that the VNT17 and 20 are bigger turbos, that I would lose some of this low end spooling only to gain more boost at higher RPMs, which would be awesome for power but not really necessary for what I want to do. Am I missing a benefit, or would the 15 really provide what I need even given an extra 4/10ths of a liter in displacement?
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: vwmike on November 15, 2006, 11:23:16 pm
Well, the VNT15 can't really even supply 20 psi reliably on the TDI. The 17 is a popular upgrade and you're going to pay more for it if you buy a used one. I'd consider the 20. As a side note, I would try a different method than Jake took to control that turbo. Not to knock him or anything but I think the wastegate eliminates some of the benefit of the VNT....just my opinion.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: rabbid79 on November 16, 2006, 05:58:32 pm
If you wanted to do something crazy, you could mount a VNT-15 (or 17) with the integrated manifold onto the first 4 cylinders of your 5-cylinder, and then fabricate and weld an extra bit of manifold from the 5th cylinder exhaust port into a hole in the VNT manifold.
BTW, I think the regular Audi turbo gas exhaust manifold is almost the same as the TD, but it has the flange for the Wastgate at the rear.  Perhaps this could be cut off and welded closed.  It might not even need to be cut off as long as it doesn't interfere with the vacuum pump on the end of the engine.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: vwmike on November 16, 2006, 06:43:00 pm
I would use a block off plate rather than trying to weld up the cast iron manifold. One thing that crossed my mind was running the turbo with the integrated 4 cylinder manifold and plumbing the 5th cylinder in after the turbo. You'd lose some exhaust energy but you wouldn't need it to spool that tiny turbo either. On the other hand that may cause some rough running. Do you happen to know the firing order the 5 cylinder? I think something like that could work if used with a rotational firing order. Then again, why bother? I guess I'm just thinking out loud here.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: Turbinepowered on November 16, 2006, 09:41:05 pm
1-2-4-5-3, Mike. I consulted the book of Bentley for the car it came out of.

I'd heard about the turbo gas manifolds fitting, and since those are easier to find than turbodiesel manifolds... I was just planning on getting a set of them and making them work. Later, when I have money... custom and tuned, PP style.

Which benefit do you think the wastegate eliminates? Really my goals are the same as Jake's were: driveability and a moderate power boost while broadening the torque band to include some of the lower levels. I'd like a cruiser, not a drag monster. It seemed the wastegate very neatly handled the spiky nature of some of his boost, for sure.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: 745 turbogreasel on November 16, 2006, 11:23:58 pm
I posted this long ago with video of an all mechanical controler.....

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4555&highlight=

and there is a vid of the VNT control with the engine running here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3448331191659563820
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: vwmike on November 17, 2006, 12:29:01 am
The whole point of having the VNT was that it would always have the optimum turbine aspect ratio. Under some conditions the turbine can provide less exhaust backpressure than the boost pressure generated. This is one of the reasons the VNT is so popular on diesels. With limited heat available it is important to harness what you have as efficiently as possible. A wastegates job isn't to offer optimum exhaust flow around the turbine but simply vent off the excess. The primary flow area is still through the turbine and with a small A/R or vanes that are clamped shut (essentially the same thing) you are hindering exhaust flow and increasing backpressure. The backpressure increase will cause a decrease in the overall efficiency of the engine. Remember, after all it is just a fancy air pump.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: Turbinepowered on November 17, 2006, 08:00:43 am
So what kind of controller would you suggest, Mike? Anything with a computer is out; part of the reason I'm ditching the gas engine in the car is I'm a little tired of computers and sensors and all that. Much easier for me to visualize and fix a mechanical problem than an electrical one.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: jackbombay on November 17, 2006, 08:33:27 am
Quote from: libbybapa
Check out the videos posted by 745 turbogreasel of Named Tintin's controller.  Throttle lever closes vanes.  Boost can opens them.  

Andrew


  Yea, that is a slick little control unit finding the right stiffness spring might be a bit of a PITA, but certainly not a deal breaker.
Title: Turbo Compounding (Edit: now gone VNT!)
Post by: Turbinepowered on November 17, 2006, 03:28:38 pm
Hmmmm, went out and took a look at the engine. That manual VNT controller with the accelerator linkage would need some serious cabling to get across the intake manifold and everything else in the way, to go from pump to turbo. Maybe the gasser intake manifold is more lowline, but the naturally aspirated swoops upward way too much for a simple cross-valve cover linkage to bridge. Pump is all the way at the back of the engine, too, and high on the side.

Maybe set it up with a cable, cable stop, and some springs that way?