Supercharging of diesel engines is one of the most popular methods of improvement of their operating indexes by influencing their general efficiency, volumetric and mass power coefficient (downsizing), unit exhaust emissions etc. Turbocharging systems are commonly used in compression-ignition engines and spark ignition engines. The most common type of supercharging is turbocharging based on a turbocharger as the main element. It is a flow machine, in which a turbine rotor and compressor rotor

more »

... e found on the common shaft. The turbine rotor is propelled with the exhaust gas from the engine while the intake air flows through the compressor rotor. The use of a turbocharger allows utilization of waste energy of the exhaust gas for improvement of parameters of the air supplied to the cylinders from the point of view of fuel combustion (increase of density and turbulence degree). Due to unfavorable operating conditions such as high temperature of the exhaust gas (for compression-ignition engines-up to approx. 800 ºC and for spark ignition engines-up to approx. 1100 ºC), very high rotational speed (up to approx. 250 000 rpm), precise structure and complex encapsulation, a turbocharger is particularly exposed to damage or failures. The operating problems of contemporary diesel engine turbocharging systems as discussed in this paper, relating to turbochargers and deriving from research and expert practice of the authors, constitute conclusions of the activities to some extent, which may contribute to further works on the improvement of diesel engine charging systems. This paper presents four types of damage occurring in turbochargers as divided into their causes. According to the division assumed in this paper, the damage is caused by:-inappropriate lubrication,-presence of foreign objects,-exceeding the admissible rotational speed of the turbocharger shaft or excessive pressure and exhaust gas temperature,-corrosion. This paper addresses each of the above-mentioned cases and describes causes and effects of the same.