Honeywell Touts Improved Turbo Performance for F1 Race Cars

The turbochargers Honeywell International Inc.'s Turbo Technologies unit supplies to the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One race team are fast approaching the sophistication, efficiency and performance of its aerospace and commercial vehicle systems, according to the company. It notes that the turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 engine used in the F1 cars produce power equivalent to that of a turbocharged 16-liter commercial vehicle engine.

Honeywell has worked with Scuderia Ferrari since last year when F1 mandated the use of turbochargers. It also supported the team in the 1980s when the series previously allowed the use of turbos.

Under the current rules, electric turbochargers are part of a new energy recovery system that helps F1 race cars improve fuel efficiency with a downsized engine. Power is enhanced by the turbine wheel, which uses exhaust gases to drive a compressor wheel pumping ambient air into the engine. For each percentage point of efficiency gain by the turbine and the compressor wheels, the engine can produce about 2kW and 1kW of more power, respectively, according to Honeywell.

In addition, the e-turbos use electricity from the race car's enhanced electrical system to improve transient response, converting excess energy to drive a generator and create additional electricity that can be used by other race car systems.

Drawing on its experience in the aerospace industry, Honeywell improved the race car's turbo bearings to boost response and fuel economy while generating maximum power. It also employs advanced material sciences affecting composition and surface coatings to reduce weight and meet extreme durability and temperature demands.

Motorsports applications already have helped Honeywell improve the turbochargers it supplies to passenger cars and trucks. This includes greater use of ball bearings, a better understanding of internal aerodynamics and adopting high-temperature materials for turbocharged gasoline engines.

Honeywell also is working with automakers on turbocharger applications for hybrid vehicles to improve the performance of the combustion engine as well as the battery pack. In the future, it expects turbochargers to be used to create more electricity to help handle increased power demands from the growing number of in-vehicle telematics, infotainment and Internet connectivity functions.