| The automotive torque converter flow fields are complex, in that they contain three-dimensional flows, which are viscous and unsteady. To add to the complexity, the difference in rotor speeds between the impeller and turbine compound the flow effects. The purpose of this study was to characterize the internal flow experimentally in a production torque converter from Ford Motor Company.; The flow characteristics were quantified by Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) measurements. The LDV system was employed for this study because understanding the fluid flow is crucial for characterizing the flows at the measured points within the torque converter. LDV measurements were conducted at a total of 9 planes at two different speed ratios. Flows at the impeller exit and gap region were affected by the turbine blade as it passed. Fluid flow was also found to be leaving the impeller and flowing up behind the turbine, negatively effecting converter efficiency. Velocity profile animations were created using the measured velocity data and custom software to allow viewing on a unix workstation. |
