Turbocharging and naturally aspirated are the two mainstream engine intake methods, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as different application scenarios. With the development of the automotive industry, turbocharging technology is becoming more and more popular, not only widely used in high-end models, but also in low-end models to occupy a certain market share. So, why are there so many turbocharged models now, is it that natural aspiration is not good?
The difference between turbocharged and naturally aspirated is mainly the way of air intake. A naturally aspirated engine is an engine that relies on atmospheric pressure to draw air into the cylinder, and its air intake is limited by factors such as cylinder volume, intake air intake resistance, and atmospheric pressure. Turbocharged engine refers to the engine that uses the exhaust gas discharged from the engine to drive the turbine, drives the impeller through the turbine, and sends the air into the cylinder after compression.
Turbocharging and naturally aspirated have their own advantages and disadvantages, which are as follows:
The advantages of natural aspiration are: mature technology, high stability, low failure rate, and low maintenance cost. The power delivery is smooth, the response speed is fast, the throttle control is sensitive, and the driving feeling is comfortable. Oil requirements are low, and semi-synthetic or fully synthetic oil can be used. The disadvantages of naturally aspirated engine are: poor power performance, and the power and torque of the turbocharged engine are higher than that of the naturally aspirated engine with the same displacement. Fuel economy is poor, and the fuel consumption of turbocharged engines is lower than that of naturally aspirated engines for the same power. Emissions are poor, and the CO2 emissions of turbocharged engines are lower than those of naturally aspirated engines for the same displacement.
The advantages of turbocharging are: strong power performance, small displacement and high power, which can provide continuous power and improve the acceleration and climbing ability of the vehicle. The fuel economy is good, and the fuel consumption of the turbocharged engine is lower than that of the naturally aspirated engine under the same power, saving fuel costs. The emission performance is good, and the carbon dioxide emission of the turbocharged engine is lower than that of the naturally aspirated engine under the same displacement, which meets the environmental protection requirements. The disadvantages of turbocharging are: complex technology, low stability, high failure rate, and high maintenance costs. The power delivery response lags, the ride needs to be improved, the throttle control is not sensitive enough, and the driving feeling is sometimes not comfortable enough. The oil requirements are high, and fully synthetic oil must be used, otherwise it will affect the life and performance of the turbocharger.
From the perspective of the global market, turbocharging technology has become a mainstream trend in the automotive industry and is favored by major automobile manufacturers. According to statistics, the market size of the global turbocharger industry in 2021 will be about 146.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 973%。It is estimated that the market size will reach 186.3 billion yuan in 2025. Europe is the region with the highest prevalence of turbocharging technology, with a turbocharger configuration rate of more than 80%, mainly influenced by regulatory requirements and consumer preferences. North America and the Asia-Pacific region are also important markets for turbochargers, and turbocharger deployment rates are expected to continue to increase as environmental awareness and fuel economy are pursued.
From the perspective of the domestic market, turbocharging technology has also developed rapidly in China, driven by the world's leading development. According to statistics, the market size of China's turbocharger industry in 2021 will be about 41 billion yuan, and it is expected to reach 55.2 billion yuan in 2025. At present, China is facing increasingly stringent fuel consumption restrictions and carbon dioxide emission reduction policies, and the turbocharger configuration rate has increased to 48 in 20210%, which is expected to increase to 62 in 20234%, there is still room for improvement in the turbocharger configuration rate of 25-30pct. At present, the domestic turbocharger market is mainly monopolized by foreign capital, Honeywell, BorgWarner, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Ishikawajima Harima occupy more than 90% of the market share, domestic turbocharger enterprises are still in their infancy, but there are also some companies through technological innovation and market expansion, and gradually enhance their competitiveness.
To sum up, turbocharging and naturally aspirated are two different engine intake methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and also different application scenarios.