The challenging problem of noise generation and propagation in automotive turbocharging systems is of real interest from both scientific and practical points of view. Robust and fast steady-state fluid flow calculations, complemented by acoustic analogies can represent valuable tools to be used for a quick assessment of the problem during e.g. design phase, and a starting point for more in-depth future unsteady calculations. Thus, as a part of the initial phase of a long-term project, a steady-state Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) flow analysis is carried out for a specific automotive turbocharger compressor geometry. Acoustic data are extracted by means of aeroacoustics models available within the framework of the STAR-CCM+ solver (i.e. Curle and Proudman acoustic analogies, respectively). This part of the work focuses on the discussion and comparison of the aeroacoustic models, and their suitability towards predicting flow and acoustics trends corresponding to the operating conditions investigated. However, given the unsteady nature of acoustics, the project will have to develop towards an investigation of the problem using more expensive, but more accurate, Large Eddy Simulation (LES) calculations. An entire compressor map with 80 operating conditions was simulated, yielding trends in the behaviour of the performance parameters for the analysed compressor. Detailed results calculated on the same compressor speed-line for one design and one off-design operating conditions are presented in terms of time-averaged pressure coefficient, Mach number, and acoustic power distributions. A total acoustic power map has been generated based on the outcome from the Curle and Proudman acoustic models, giving an indication of the noisiest operating conditions.

In compressor noise simulations that are run without acoustic analogies, the direct noise computation (DNC) approach is utilised, allowing the acoustic waves to be solved in the time domain. The intent of the present paper is to analyse the effects of several solver and grid settings on the propagation of acoustic waves through the domain and on their reflection from the boundaries. Such effects are addressed and quantified in the present analysis, which is conducted on cylindrical pipes used as inlets in turbocharger compressor setups.The results show that reflection coefficients below 1% can be achieved, and that non-linear effects may exert an influence on the propagated waves’ amplitudes and decay rates.Together with the wave decomposition approach chosen, the analyses run make the present work a solid base from which to run trust worthy direct noise computation and accurate post-processing.

The use of turbochargers with downsized internal combustion engines improves road vehicles’ energy efficiency but introduces additional sound sources of strong acoustic annoyance on the turbocharger’s compressor side. In the present study, direct noise computations (DNC) are carried out on a passenger vehicle turbocharger compressor. The work focuses on assessing the influence of grid parameters on the acoustic predictions, to further advance the maturity of the acoustic modelling of such machines with complex three-dimensional features. The effect of the boundary layer mesh structure, and of the spatial resolution of the mesh, on the simulated acoustic signatures is investigated on detached eddy simulations (DES). Refinements in the core mesh are applied in areas of major acoustic production, to generate cells with sizes proportional to the local Taylor microscale values. Such an educated guess allows for quality enhancement with a smaller increase in computational costs as compared to more general overall refinements. The reflection-free simulation results are validated against experiments. The experimental data were post-processed with methods from the two-port theory to represent pure acoustic source power density for the acoustic modes, cleaned from test-domain-specific reflections. A detailed comparison between experiments and numerical simulations is carried out. As a result of this study, the most critical parameters for the numerical prediction of turbocharger noise are presented. The results can, furthermore, be used to improve the understanding of grid construction when predicting noise signature for compressor flows.