In a radial-inflow turbine of the automotive turbocharger, the variable nozzle guide vane is an indispensable component to achieve the high aerodynamic performance over the wide operating range. By changing the nozzle throat area, it is enabled to optimize the impeller inlet flow velocity for several engine speeds from the idle to the rated power condition. However, the aerodynamic excitation force caused by the rotor-stator interaction between the nozzle vanes and the impeller has become a large issue for the variable nozzle turbine. In this paper, three-dimensional numerical simulations were conductedto investigate the unsteady stage interaction. Two parameters are mainly focused, which are the nozzle vane angle and the stage expansion ratio. When the nozzle is fixed at the open condition, the excitation force is proportional to the turbine inlet pressure. On the other hand, when the nozzle is at the closed or medium opened condition, the shock wave is generated near the nozzle outlet by the rapid flow acceleration within the nozzle passage and the interaction between the nozzle potential flow field and the impeller blades causes the large excitation force on the impeller blade surface.
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