Hey I’m Greg…
And I’m Jimmy…
And Honda Racing F1 have asked us to show you exactly how their master engineers achieve energy savings as big as this…
So we wanted to look at how an F1 power unit drives its turbocharger using a clever bit of energy re-use.
They do it in a really neat way, they re-use the energy that would normally be lost out through the exhaust.
So you can see exactly what goes on inside I’ve cut this window in the back of a standard turbocharger, which for me Greg was utter sacrilege.
Thanks Man …
The Engineers at Formula 1 use a turbocharger to increase the power output and they do that by compressing more air into the cylinder.
We should obviously say this is not a Formula 1 turbocharger because they’re all kind of busy being used right now.
Right shall we do this?
Yea ok, so what we are going to do is light some red smoke and that represents the hot expanding gasses coming out of the cylinders and they normally head down the exhaust pipe and are lost, but not in this case, they are going to turn our turbine in our turbo charger.
Hit the smoke.
We should get some red smoke coming out; there we go red smoke. Ok turn it on.
So hot exhaust gasses coming out of the cylinder. They come down the exhaust pipe and turn the turbine in the turbocharger
So what’s happening is this turbine is essentially converting the heat energy from the hot expanding exhaust gasses into movement energy, into kinetic energy, and we can use that in two ways.
The first is that it can go through and charge up the MGU-H, one of those motor generator units that we talk about on the other episodes
And the second it drives this, the compressor.
The compressor is connected from the turbine through a small shaft which drives another little metal fan and that sucks air into the compressor, compressing it forcing it up and back into the cylinder giving it more power, and it looks something like this…Light the blue smoke
Pop it in.
Ok turn it on
So that’s the blue smoke or the oxygen in the air from the environment and when the compressors running it sucks it in, compresses it, forcing it up there and into the cylinder, giving that engine a lot more power.
It’s beautifully simple. The turbocharger’s compressor pushes, compresses more air into the cylinder, which of course puts in more oxygen, reacts with that fuel gives us a lot more power.
Can you stop playing while I’m trying to do the science bit!
Awesome bit of kit
Yea it’s pretty neat
To put all this turbocharger talk into some kind of perspective, we’re going to head up the road where I have got one waiting and you are going to need this
Oh yes!
Because it’s going to be a riot.
No. Terrible pun.
Ok, so we’re going to be using THIS to show you how much energy can be regained from the exhaust gasses which are normally lost.
You all right Greg?
Yea I guess so, I’m up for a challenge in the name of science, so let’s see what happens.
Your going to be fine chap, you’re going to be fine.
Yea, thanks Buddy.
Right this, is Pete’s fire engine and it’s got a turbocharger and just like a Formula 1 turbocharger its powered by the exhaust gasses. Isn’t that right Pete?
Now the Turbo chargers compressor is connected to the engine and that powers the hose. Isn’t that right John?
It is.
Greg, go and stand yourself over there
Ok. Let’s do this.
Because first I’ve disconnected the turbocharger so we can see what difference it really makes.
Come on!
You ready chaps? Hose him down.
What’s that? Rubbish.
He’s a lucky boy.
Turbocharge it up. Come on! Hit me.
John’s jet of water just went 33 meters. Not enough distance to hit our target, Mr Foot.  So this time I’m going to reconnect our turbocharger and I promise you I’m going to get him wet.
This time, Mr Foot is going to get it. Are you ready again chaps? Let him have it…
We are getting him.
Yeah give him that.
Smashing him, completely smashing him.
Yea you got him.
The turbocharger’s compressor is delivering a lot more power to the hose. Increasing the force behind the water sending it a lot further. Its now going about 50 meters and hitting my target spot on.
Are you alright Greg?
That was awesome.
It was good huh?
I’m a little bit damp. I’m not going to lie.
Pete and John’s fire truck is using expelled exhaust gasses to power the compressor inside the turbocharger. That’s forcing more air into the cylinder increasing their firing distance by 50%.
Now in Formula 1 cars, by adding in that turbocharger and the compressor it means the F1 teams can actually generate up to 400% more power than they would do if it was just the I.C.E the internal combustion engine alone.
Now if we did that set up with this fire truck that would be the equivalent of well over 130 meters which is a lot.
Even though the new F1 requirements actually limit them to smaller engines, 1.6 V6 engines and with a lower maximum fuel cap. Ain’t that right buddy?
It is.
Revenge.
Next time we look at how the energy from braking can be captured and reused to give the drivers a boost.
Typical. Cheers chap!
