Patented CTR Oil-Less 3.0 Turbocharger

Comp Turbo Technology, Inc. extended the boundaries of turbocharger technology with the announcement of the availability of a turbocharger model that used a bearing system that did not need a lubricating oil supply from the engine.  The oil-less model has been in production now for over four years and has established an enviable record for extended durability in the field.  Lube oil supply and drain lines are unnecessary, and the oil-less turbochargers can be mounted in a variety of positions and locations that were not possible when lube oil had to be gravity-drained back into the engine crankcase.

 

Historically, the use of engine oil to lubricate turbocharger bearing systems has given rise to a number of serious operational problems.  To prevent oil leakage into the compressor and turbine casings, small piston rings are employed as oil seals in commercial turbochargers.  Since the piston rings are not positive contact seals, here is a small leak path around the rings.  During certain operating conditions of the engine, such as low idle or when a vacuum occurs in the air intake system due to a restricted air cleaner, some oil leakage around the piston rings can occur.  Any lube oil leakage into the turbocharger casings can result in undesirable emissions and/or smoke in the engine exhaust.

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In cold weather or cold climates, due to the high viscosity of cold lube oil when the engine is started, there can be a significant time lag before lube oil reaches the turbocharger bearings.  In some cases, this time lag can cause sleeve bearings to fail due to oil starvation.

 

Another problem can occur when a hot engine is shut down quickly from being operated at high speed and load where exhaust temperatures are maximized.  Heat that is conducted into the turbocharger casings from the hot exhaust manifold can cause residual lube oil in the turbocharger bearing housing to carbonize.  After repeated hot engine shut-downs, this carbonization can accumulate in the bearing housing and eventually cause failure of the bearings.

 

Notwithstanding the fact that years of development and operational experience has mitigated the above described problems, there remained a motivation to remove the use of engine oil from turbocharger bearing systems, thereby eliminating completely the problems associated with the use of oil.  Comp Turbo Technology, Inc. responded to this challenge by developing the first commercial oil-less turbocharger.  The oil-less models employ a version of the TRIPLEX CERAMIC™ ball bearing system where the full complement bearings are lubricated by a high-quality channeling grease.  The internal components are made of stainless steel to prevent rusting over the lifetime of the turbocharger.

 

The elongated steel cylinder that mounts the bearings is provided with axially spaced "O" rings in its outside diameter that engage the bore in the bearing housing and the steel cylinder does not rotate.  Cooling water is supplied from the engine to an enlarged circumferential water jacket in the turbocharger bearing housing.  This cools the bearing housing, taking away the heat conducted to it from the hot turbine casing.  A Zerk fitting has been added to the bearing housing to allow re-greasing the bearings on site without disassembling the turbocharger, thereby extending their life indefinitely.

 

Contact Comp Turbo Technology, Inc. for more information, or submit engine specifications so an experienced staff specialist can return a specific model recommendation to meet individual requirements.