Honeywell’s variable geometry turbo (VGT) technology was featured on the Audi R15 TDI at 24 Hours of Le Mans, helping Audi claim a clean sweep of the podium stand (first, second, and third place), while breaking the distance record for the race.
The victorious Audi team of Timo Bernhard (Germany), Romain Dumas (France), and Mike Rockenfeller (Germany), completed a total of 397 laps in the 24 hours, covering a record-breaking distance of 5,410 kilometers.
Honeywell has partnered with Audi Motorsport for the past three years to integrate its variable geometry turbo technology into all of Audi’s R15 TDI V10 Le Mans car engines in order to increase engine efficiency. This year, they were able to increase efficiency 20 percent over Audi’s previous (and larger) Le Mans engine model (Audi R10 V12 TDI). Variable geometry turbochargers are standard in all Audi TDI engines in production vehicles.
VGT turbos help optimize power-efficiency by using moveable vanes around the turbine inlet to match turbo boost precisely to the needs of the engine. At lower engine speeds, the variable nozzle turbine vanes close to restrict the exhaust air flow through the turbine, thereby increasing turbine power and boost pressure. At higher engine speeds, the moveable vanes open to maximize the exhaust gas flow, thereby avoiding turbo over-speed and maintaining the required boost pressure.
For more information, read the press release.
