3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Variable vane turbo

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-23-10, 10:23 PM
  #1  
10-8-10

Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
adamrs80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Variable vane turbo

Anybody seen one of these on an RX-7?

http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22515

Bell Engineering/Corky Bell has a shop here in San Antonio. I went by his shop years ago when I had an FC and saw one of these variable vane turbos sitting on his desk.

Seems like it would be a nice solution for quick spool and plenty of volume in the higher RPMs.

I'm still going to stick with the stock twins but this seemed like it could be useful for some of you guys.
Old 07-23-10, 10:30 PM
  #2  
Senior Member

 
zxrazorxz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: campbell river british columbia
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by adamrs80
Anybody seen one of these on an RX-7?

http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22515

Bell Engineering/Corky Bell has a shop here in San Antonio. I went by his shop years ago when I had an FC and saw one of these variable vane turbos sitting on his desk.

Seems like it would be a nice solution for quick spool and plenty of volume in the higher RPMs.

I'm still going to stick with the stock twins but this seemed like it could be useful for some of you guys.
that sounds great, the problems i see with it is maybe it couldnt withstand a rotarys hot exhaust, maybe the vanes would shear off or possibly stick causeing problems?
Old 07-23-10, 11:15 PM
  #3  
GorillaRaceEngineering.co

iTrader: (1)
 
Gorilla RE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 2,048
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by zxrazorxz
that sounds great, the problems i see with it is maybe it couldnt withstand a rotarys hot exhaust, maybe the vanes would shear off or possibly stick causeing problems?
Inconel turbine wheel, vanes and exhaust housing. That issue has been addressed for decades!
Old 07-23-10, 11:43 PM
  #4  
Senior Member

 
zxrazorxz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: campbell river british columbia
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Gorilla RE
Inconel turbine wheel, vanes and exhaust housing. That issue has been addressed for decades!
well :P i see no problem with these it would be interesting to see what kind of numbers they would put down on a fd
Old 07-24-10, 12:18 AM
  #5  
Torqueless Wonder

iTrader: (1)
 
cptpain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,020
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
they are ridiculously priced
Old 07-24-10, 09:32 AM
  #6  
10-8-10

Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
adamrs80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I wonder what determines the position of the vanes at any given RPM? Is there some sort of electronic controller that uses sensors to determine when to move the vanes and to what position or do the vanes just move from an "impact" angle to a less aggressive angle as the RPMs rise. It would be nice if it were a simple mechanical system and not something that requires a bunch of electronic crap. It sure seems like it would solve a lot of problems if the cost were not out of the question.
Old 07-24-10, 09:36 AM
  #7  
Senior Member

iTrader: (4)
 
hades's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denton, Tx
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
older holset turbo's used boost pressure. The newer ones are all electronic.
Old 07-24-10, 10:04 AM
  #8  
GorillaRaceEngineering.co

iTrader: (1)
 
Gorilla RE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 2,048
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by adamrs80
I wonder what determines the position of the vanes at any given RPM? Is there some sort of electronic controller that uses sensors to determine when to move the vanes and to what position or do the vanes just move from an "impact" angle to a less aggressive angle as the RPMs rise. It would be nice if it were a simple mechanical system and not something that requires a bunch of electronic crap. It sure seems like it would solve a lot of problems if the cost were not out of the question.
SEARCH THE INTOR-WEBZ... This information is all over the place.

http://www.autozine.org/technical_sc...gine_3.htm#VTG I could give you some SAE stuff but this'll due.

-J
Old 07-24-10, 11:09 AM
  #9  
10-8-10

Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
adamrs80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Looks like the system would not be able to handle the rotary heat if none of the VTG turbos (other than Porsche's) can handle a normal gasoline engines heat.
Old 07-24-10, 11:15 AM
  #10  
Still got it.

iTrader: (2)
 
Prometheus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 1,687
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
If I remember correctly... Borg Warner was manufacturing the VVT's for Porche, but the manufacturer exclusivity agreement is now up.

Prices have dropped in the last year substancially.

The only issue I could see, would be reliability in direct relation to the turbo's size.

The smaller, the shorter the life span.

Seems likenin the past, the VVT's that were lasting long enough to pay for themselves were fairley large.
Old 07-24-10, 12:24 PM
  #11  
rotorhead

iTrader: (3)
 
arghx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: cold
Posts: 16,182
Received 429 Likes on 263 Posts
Honda uses them on a gas application on the RDX SUV just like Porsche. Cummins/Holset uses them for diesels. Ford uses Garrett variable vane turbos on F series diesels:











Besides some of the reported reliability issues, I think they're great on cars that were actually designed for them in terms of the plumbing and the control system. A variable vane turbo is designed to be used without a wastegate. The A/R should increase so much with the vanes open that boost will no longer rise, and yet no exhaust is "wasted" by bypassing the turbine blades. In that way they are much more thermally efficient.

But good luck finding one off the shelf that will work well like that on a rotary. And if you're going to run a wastegate with a variable vane turbo you are losing much of the benefit. You might as well stick with the proven twin scroll turbine housing and divided manifold that even Mazda was using back in the series 5 turbo FC3S.
Attached Thumbnails Variable vane turbo-vgt_turbine_operation.jpg   Variable vane turbo-vgt_turbine_control-valve.jpg   Variable vane turbo-vgt_turbine_low_speed.jpg   Variable vane turbo-vgt_turbine_mid_speed.jpg   Variable vane turbo-vgt_turbine_high_speed.jpg  

Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
trickster
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
25
07-01-23 04:40 PM
C. Ludwig
Single Turbo RX-7's
49
01-30-19 06:31 AM
smikels
Rtek Forum
4
05-12-16 12:34 AM
befarrer
Microtech
3
08-22-15 05:52 PM
ChrisRX8PR
Single Turbo RX-7's
18
08-21-15 01:56 PM



Quick Reply: Variable vane turbo



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:51 PM.