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Technology / How does a turbocharger work?
« on: 30/11/2011 12:32:46 »
This may be a silly question, but can someone explain to me WHY a turbocharger works, using Newtonian principles?
I never really found someone that could explain it to me satisfactorily.
As far as I understand how a turbo works, simply said:
the exhaust fumes push one side of a fan, and the other side pushes in the fresh air faster because of this, which makes it possible for the engine to work harder and produce more power. Correct?
I know about action = reaction, conservation of energy, and such.
To me a turbo seems to contradict some laws of physics. I know I am making a mental mistake here(obviously), but I don't know what I am missing/overlooking.
A turbo feels a bit like blowing into your own sails, or pushing your steering wheel to make your car go faster.
I never really found someone that could explain it to me satisfactorily.
As far as I understand how a turbo works, simply said:
the exhaust fumes push one side of a fan, and the other side pushes in the fresh air faster because of this, which makes it possible for the engine to work harder and produce more power. Correct?
I know about action = reaction, conservation of energy, and such.
To me a turbo seems to contradict some laws of physics. I know I am making a mental mistake here(obviously), but I don't know what I am missing/overlooking.
A turbo feels a bit like blowing into your own sails, or pushing your steering wheel to make your car go faster.