VATN turbos

[fodo]

All this hoohah about the VATN turbos...I finally tried looking around the net for one to see the price with no result....anyone know how much these things are or where to get one?

[ryanman]

Never heard of em.

[doctorstupid]

never heard of them either.

[fodo]

VATN overview (http://www.aerocharger.com/vatn1.htm)

[saabracr]

You need some pretty advanced software and knowledge to make one of those work to its potential. I think Audi employs them on diesels overseas, but to my knowledge no one has made any significant progress on the performance end of things.

The possibilities are astounding. We need Apex to build a box to extract them. And free dyno time too.

Andy

[rmcdaniels]

I checked them out. Aerocharger isn't available anymore and had reliability issues. VW/Audi uses a small Garrett VNT-15 unit in diesel engines, but it isn't suitable for high HP applications and reliability is an issue if used with a gas engine. Apparently diesel exhaust is significantly cooler that gas exhaust and is a lot easier on the moving vane mechanism.

If you are looking to reduce lag, then there are a lot of things you can do to reduce lag, some cheap and some not so cheap. I've been putting together a low lag turbo setup and am just about done. I hope to be able to make boost around 2K RPM and get full boost through 9.5K RPM making around 400 HP.

It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Why do you want a VATN unit?

[doctorstupid]

i have no idea what that god-awful sketch is trying to illustrate.

[saabracr]

Those are vanes inside the turbine housing that move to alter the incident angle at which the exhaust gas hits the turbine wheel. When HP is asked for, they move to direct exhaust into the wheel. When cruising or at full boost, they direct exhaust away from the wheel. The vanes replace the wastegate with a more efficient system.

Though as rmc mentioned, turbo technology has come a long way. A properly designed system will produce the power you want without much lag. Think Garrett GT turbo, V-mount (properly built) intercooler, and total control over fuel and timing.

[rmcdaniels]

pics and explanation with moving pic of vanes:

http://www.technologie-entwicklung.de/Gasturbines/VNT15-Turbo/body_vnt15-turbo.html

[doctorstupid]

nifty

[hotrod]

Its one of those good ideas that is not sorted out yet. When they work they are super quick spooling and have great top end with low back pressure. The problem is the technology (mostly of materials) is not reliable enough. If the vanes hang up in the quick spooling mode, when the engine goes to high rpm, it leads to explosive over rev failure of the turbo.

Kinda like having a small bomb go off under the hood.

There have been a couple attempts to market them but so far they have all only lasted a short time before being pulled off the market. They will porbably show up first in the industrial area where folks have the money to pay for top end materials, and can provide reliable preventive maint.

Larry

[AcuraBro]

In the late 80's, early 90's, Dodge ran a limited production on the shadow turbo and a Spirit R/T turbo with VNT's, although they did have sucsess w/ spool up times, the reliablilty and materials were flawed. They had a lot of problems with the turbos, and with soo many moving parts inside of them, that the opted to not continue the production run. Some diesels do use these, but they're very complex pieces, and also very pricey.
http://www.exploremaine.com/~yngwie/vnt.htm

[rmcdaniels]

Here's a Garrett VNT25 if anybody wants it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33742&item=2470453403

[TheJackal]

although i know what VATN turbos are i wouldnt really use one, whats proven is proven... just go with a regular garett

[rmcdaniels]

Two minutes ago I bought a Garrett GT3071R. It's supposed to spool up very quickly.