Importance

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Abstract

According to the present invention, the impeller inlet of a turbocharger compressor receives intake air from an inner channel and an outer channel. The outer channel is pressurized with an electrically powered secondary compressor. The pressurized air in the outer channel flows into the impeller near the outer wall of the impeller inlet. The pressurized air next to the outer wall of the impeller inlet prevents backflow of air out of the impeller and thereby prevents surge and enables the compressor to produce high boost pressures under small mass flow settings. Only a portion of the intake air is pressurized with the electrically powered secondary compressor, and the boost pressure of the electrical compressor is only a fraction of the turbocharger compressor's overall pressure ratio. Consequently, only a small amount of electrical power is required to drive the secondary compressor, thereby enabling conventional 12 volt batteries to be used to power the electrical compressor for almost all automotive applications.

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First Claim