Summary Reader Response Draft #4

 The article “Bugatti Chiron review - the final generation of Bugatti's W16 masterpiece" by Meaden (2023) provides an overview of the Bugatti Chiron, a high-performance supercar recognised for its exceptional performance. The vehicle has a robust 16-cylinder engine that produces an astounding 1479 horsepower and 1180 lb-ft of torque. The article by Meaden (2023) goes on to praise the Chiron's engine as a remarkable accomplishment in engineering, delivering immediate power throughout all engine speeds (Sands, 2015). Perkins (2022) attributes this to the "sequential setup" of turbochargers, which involves the utilisation of two turbos to optimize performance during lower engine speeds, specifically up to 3800 revolutions per minute (rpm). Upon reaching this threshold, the valve opens and activates the two remaining turbochargers (Perkins, 2022). This design maintains peak torque output within the RPM range of 2000 to 6000 (Uwaoma, 2022).

The quad-turbocharger system is pivotal in facilitating the engine's optimal air intake, thereby allowing the Chiron to fully harness its complete capacity while maintaining its aerodynamic body.

The Bugatti’s turbochargers facilitate the engine’s air intake, directly influencing its performance. Heywood (2018) states that the maximum output of the engine is the amount of efficient combustion that can happen. This limitation is directly influenced by the amount of air introduced into each cylinder. Research from Alrwashdeh et al. (2022), confirms that increased turbocharger pressure will ensure better combustion efficiency in an engine. This shows that the turbochargers provide a concentrated, oxygen-rich air supply that flows into the engine. The oxygen-rich and pressurised air greatly increases combustion efficiency, power output and overall engine performance. In summary, the turbochargers are essential to provide the engine’s optimal air intake.

Bugatti’s quad turbocharger system effectively addresses limitations found in traditional turbochargers, allowing the Chiron to fully harness the engine’s capacity. Maurya et al. (2023) highlighted the constraints of single-stage turbocharging, especially at low engine speeds, restricting the overall efficiency of turbocharging. To overcome these limitations, the Chiron incorporates two-stage turbochargers. The two-stage system increases air intake pressure and turbocharger efficiency at all engine speeds, as explained by Nguyen-Schäfer (2015). The engine redirects the exhaust gases towards the two-stage turbochargers instead of directly routing them to the exhaust pipe. This allows for the expansion of the exhaust gases and the rotation of the turbine blades within the turbocharger. The turbine then powers an air compressor, which draws in cold, clean air from a vent and compresses it, introducing the air into the engine (Nguyen-Schäfer, 2015). To conclude, Bugatti’s innovative quad two-stage turbocharger system ensures the Chiron maintains sufficient boost pressure for air intake across a wide range of engine speeds, allowing the vehicle to fully exploit its engine capacity.

The turbochargers play a crucial role in ensuring the Chiron’s engine receives an ample air supply, enabling Bugatti to design the chassis without requiring additional openings, preserving its aerodynamic performance. Bugatti (2022) detailed that it was able to engineer the chassis to minimise aerodynamic drag and maximise the downforce. This optimisation of the chassis was made possible because the turbochargers already met the engine’s requirements for air supply. This synergy allowed Bugatti to achieve an aerodynamic body without compromising other design aspects. In summary, the Chiron's exceptional aerodynamic design is directly attributed to the turbochargers' capacity to provide ample air to the engine, eliminating the need for sacrifices in aerodynamics.

The use of turbochargers has been shown to enhance engine efficiency; however, it comes with high maintenance requirements. According to Garret (n.d), a renowned turbocharger manufacturer, "more than 90%" of turbocharger failures are caused by oil-related issues. Turbochargers rely on engine oil to lubricate their bearings, which control the high-speed rotation of the turbines for extended periods of time. Engine oil has the capacity to carry tiny particles, like carbon, that come from the process of combustion. These particles have abrasive properties and slowly wear down the turbocharger. The life expectancy of mechanical components can be drastically reduced by such contaminants. Therefore, the implementation of a quad-turbocharger system would require constant checks and maintenance to minimise the risk of catastrophic failure.

The Bugatti Chiron's quad-turbocharger system allows the engine to hit its peak performance while preserving an aerodynamic chassis. Although it comes at a cost of higher maintenance requirements to ensure long-term reliability, it is undoubtedly an engineering marvel and the heart of the Bugatti Chiron.

 

References

 

Alrwashdeh, S. S., Al-falahat, A. M., Murtadha, T. K. (2022a). Effect of turbocharger

compression ratio on performance of the spark-ignition internal combustion engine. Emerging Science Journal. https://ijournalse.org/index.php/ESJ/article/view/915  

Ashish, S., Aravind, M.R., Abhinav, R., Dhurandher, B.K. (2023). Intake Boosting Techniques in Internal Combustion Engines to Increase Engine Performance. In: Maurya, A., Srivastava, A.K., Jha, P.K., Pandey, S.M. (eds) Recent Trends in Mechanical Engineering. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7709-1_35

Bugatti. (2022, July 29). Bugatti W16 engine – the last of its kind – Bugatti newsroom. – Bugatti Newsroom. https://newsroom.bugatti.com/press-releases/bugatti-w16-engine-the-last-of-its-kind

Dorian, D., & Clarke, W. (2022). 2022 Bugatti Chiron Review, pricing, and Specs - Car and driver. Car and Driver. https://www.caranddriver.com/bugatti/chiron

Garret. (n.d). Why do turbochargers fail?. Garrett Motion. https://www.garrettmotion.com/knowledge-center-category/turbo-replacement/why-do-turbochargers-fail/

Heywood, J. B. (2018). 6.8.1 SUPERCHARGING AND TURBOCHARGING. Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals. McGraw-Hill Education.

Meaden, R. (2023). Bugatti Chiron Review - the final generation of Bugatti’s W16 masterpiece. Evo. https://www.evo.co.uk/bugatti/chiron

Nguyen-Schäfer, H. (2015, May 16). Rotordynamics of automotive turbochargers. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-17644-4 

Perkins, C. (2022, December 31). What ever happened to sequential turbocharging? Road & track. https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a42363092/what-ever-happened-to-sequential-turbocharging/

Sands, J. (2015, March 7). What Is Turbo Lag? And How Do You Get Rid Of It? MotorTrend. https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/what-is-turbo-lag-how-do-you-get-rid-of-it/

Uwaoma, P. (2022, Jul 28). Everything You Need To Know About Bugatti’s 8.0-Liter Quad-Turbo W16 Engine. https://www.hotcars.com/bugattis-80-liter-quad-turbo-w16-engine/