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Read on to understand what he sees as the biggest opportunities for those working in this field and what he is looking forward to at this year’s conference.
Q: Please can you briefly explain your role and previous involvement with the Institution’s International Conference on Turbochargers and Turbocharging.
Ricardo Martinez-Botas (RMB): I have become the chair of the conference in 2020 and I am excited to be able to guide the event through the necessary changes to make it virtual in 2021. I have bene in the organsing committee for many years and I remember attending the conference upon being appointed Lecturer at Imperial College in 1994!
Q: With the phasing out of ICE vehicles, where do you see the future direction of turbochargers and boosting solutions going?
RMB: Boosting technologies will continue to play a role with ICEs in applications that go beyond the light duty road transport sector. They are also set to be part of advanced hybrid ICEs. The need to increase thermal efficiency beyond 50% will necessitate waste heat recovery systems and these will invariable will use turbo/compressors.
Q: With the growth of hybrids and fuels cells, what opportunities are there for the turbocharger market?
RMB: The growth of fuel cell technology for road transport will need the reduction of parasitic losses (compression and fluid distribution) and this means using optimised turbocharger technology. To enable super efficient ICEs in hybrids that limit the demand on the battery will need the use of boosting technology.
Q: With the conference taking place online for the first time, what are you most looking forward to about the new format?
RMB: The virtual format brings a new way of participation that will feel different at first but that in the end it will mean a different experience for the attendees. It will have an exciting way to networking and exhibition.
Q: Which topics or speakers on the agenda are you looking forward to hearing at this year’s conference?
RMB: I look forward to the key notes on both days and also to the advances on turbocharger aerodynamics.
Q: Why is it so important for professionals to continue to attend this conference?
RMB: The advancement of turbocharger technology has been relentless, this conference will bring together not only component advances made but also system level gains.
The 14th International Conference on Turbochargers and Turbocharging takes place online on 11-12 May 2021.
The Institution’s world-leading Conference returns live and online in 2021 and will address current and novel turbocharging system choices and components with a renewed emphasis to address the challenges posed by emission regulations and market trends.
For more information, full programme and to book your place to get involved, please visit the event website.