Institution news
In response to exponential growth in the region, this new conference will bring together the APAC turbochargers industry and will address the specific commercial and regulatory challenges facing local operators. With two months to go, we spoke with Srithar Rajoo, Director at the UTM Centre for Low Carbon Transport, to find out what hot topics, opportunities and issues will be covered at the inaugural conference, together with further details of what attendees can expect with his presentation “Experimental and Computational Outlook for Component-to-System Level Turbocharger Performance Assessment”.
Q: Please can you briefly explain your role and involvement with turbocharging technologies.
Srithar Rajoo (SR): I’ve been involved in turbocharging research since 2003. I am very much focused on exploring new ideas to improve boosting methods, and eventually engine performance improvements. Over the years, my colleagues and I have developed experimental and simulation methodologies to enhance engine-turbocharging understanding and improvements.
Q: What is the number one challenge for those working in the turbocharging industry in today’s current market?
SR: I would say the negative publicity for internal combustion engine is the biggest challenge for turbocharger industry currently. We as a community need to up our game to achieve continuous improvement in boosting solutions as well as the overall engine efficiency to stay relevant. Furthermore, due to diesel-gate, demand for gasoline passenger vehicle is continuously increasing especially in the emerging markets. This requires high performance gasoline turbochargers – wide operating compressors and VG turbine. This requires high tolerance materials, advance controls and operating regimes. This is some of the technical challenges the industry is facing as a whole to meet the customer and legislation targets.
Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your company or in the industry in general?
SR: Every little improvement in performance is more important now than ever. Engineers are pushing boundaries for high temperature materials and advance control (turbo and engine) for gasoline turbocharger, while still staying within the cost tolerance. Powertrain will be more electrified, thus co-operation of motor with small boosted engine is of importance now. How engine ECU can be optimized for electrified powertrain is an interesting topic under study now. Engine itself will see diversification going forward – Miller cycle, GDI and EGR will be more common. Thus how boosting system will be a key component in this development is of interest currently.
Q: Where do you see the future of these assets in the Asia Pacific region in the next 5 – 10 years?
SR: Asia Pacific is a region with more than 650m population and mostly developing countries. I believe Asia Pacific will see significant growth in the next 5-10 years, thus higher transport demands. Turbocharging business will see a continuous growth as increasing powertrain boosting on the road for better efficiency and emission targets.
Q: What can attendees expect from your presentation and this year’s conference?
SR: Attendees will discover the latest development in turbocharger industry – be it commercial or research & development – focusing on Asia Pacific. This including who are the key players and what sort of activities are on-going in Asia Pacific related to turbochargers.
Q: What other topics are you looking forward to hearing about and discussing at the upcoming user group?
SR: The global trends for turbochargers, in light of increasingly stringent regulations, electrified powertrain proliferation and negative public opinion of internal combustion engine due to bad press. Furthermore how does this going to affect the Asia Pacific market.
Q: Why do you feel it is important for all engineers and professionals to join the conference in Singapore?
SR: To know the latest in the world of turbocharging, specific to Asia Pacific, and most important to network with similar minded people in this region.
International Conference in Turbochargers and Turbocharging Asia Pacific takes place on
8-9 May 2019, PARKROYAL on Beach Road Singapore, Singapore
The programme explores the latest technical developments in turbocharging technologies through in-depth presentations from OEMs, researchers, tier 1 suppliers and academics. By attending you will arm yourself with the latest knowledge, insights and professional connections in this fast-growing and ever-changing industry.
Speakers include representatives from:
- Geely Powertrain Research Institute
- IHI Corporation
- Proton
- Honda
- Great Wall Motors
- Garrett – Advancing Motion
- General Motors
- MHI Engine and Turbocharger Ltd and more.
For full details and to book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/turboasia.