Influence of varying altitudes on matching characteristics of the Twin-VGT system with a diesel engine and performance based on analysis of available exhaust energy

A variable geometry turbocharger in series with a variable geometry turbocharger (Twin-VGT) system was designed to improve engine power at high altitudes. The influence of altitudes on the performance of the Twin-VGT system was investigated in the perspective of available exhaust energy. The interaction between exhaust flow characteristics of Twin-VGT and openings of Twin-VGT vanes was theoretically analyzed at different altitudes. Meanwhile, a model of a diesel engine matched with the Twin-VGT system was built to study the matching performance of the Twin-VGT system with engine at different altitudes. The optimal opening maps of both high-pressure and low-pressure VGT vanes at high altitudes were obtained to achieve the maximum engine power. The results showed that the optimal openings of high-pressure and low-pressure VGT vanes decreased with increase in altitudes. The operating points of the two-stage compressors located at the high efficiency region and the compressor efficiency region both exceeded 62% at different altitudes. The global expansion ratio increased with increase in altitudes and reached 4.9 at 5500?m. Compared with the VGT in series with a fixed geometry turbocharger on testing bed, exhaust energy of Twin-VGT turbines at low speeds was utilized reasonably and global pressure ratio increased by 0.69–0.94, while brake-specific fuel consumption decreased by 11.24–33.62% under low speeds above altitudes of 2500?m.