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The Power of Synergy

Posted 09.09.2011

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The synergy that links Honeywell’s world-class aerospace and automotive engineering expertise is behind many breakthrough turbo technologies. It’s a relationship that goes back almost 50 years, when in 1962, the Oldsmobile Jetfire Rocket became the first passenger car ever turbocharged, and fittingly boosted by a Honeywell predecessor company Garrett AiResearch…an aerospace leader at the time.

Craig Balis

Today, the Honeywell turbo advantage comes from exploiting the science and technology common to both businesses – aerodynamics, rotor-dynamics, materials, testing and electrification.

“From the development of new alloys and aerodynamic designs, to innovations like our ball-bearing turbo, our aerospace connection gives us an unsurpassed technological advantage,” says Craig Balis, VP of Engineering at Honeywell Turbo Technologies, who started his technical career with Honeywell Aerospace. “Automakers directly benefit from this knowledge as we help them reach new levels of fuel-efficiency and performance.”

The Honeywell synergy is directly responsible for new turbo architectures and system advances that help set new benchmarks in power, torque, fuel efficiency and emissions reduction…all areas increasingly critical to auto manufacturers.

In aerodynamics… Honeywell turbo engineers enjoy unique advantages, aided by the transfer of knowledge made possible by more than 30,000 performance maps linked to turbojets and auxiliary power units. Along with sophisticated Auto Optimization tools, this leads to enhanced turbo efficiency at high pressure ratios and breakthrough innovations such as double-sided compressor wheels.

In rotor-dynamics… with turbos spinning as fast as 350,000rpm, stability and reducing friction losses are of critical importance. Aerospace bearing technologies – such as ball bearings – are now being applied to turbochargers, leading to significantly improved transient response, increased fuel economy and better cold-weather performance.

In materials and process… the synergy leverages expertise in coatings, raw materials development and surface treatment techniques. For Honeywell Turbo Technologies, knowledge sharing in this area has resulted in the use of innovative metals, alloys and composites that function well under the high-temperature conditions and expand performance profile of materials through increased wear resistance.

synergyIn testing… the knowledge transfer from Aerospace to Turbo business includes mechanical and electric design as well as facility construction. For example, in the recent design of air delivery system for the Turbo lab in Mexico, the Aerospace expertise in this field directly contributed to achieving consistency in air supply while improving overall efficiency.

In electrification… as CO2 reduction becomes a global imperative, the integration of electrical and mechanical components – as developed for Honeywell aircraft auxiliary power units – has a vital role to play in delivering a more energy efficient and cleaner future.

Says Balis: “The value created through this cooperation is evident through the specific technological advances already featured in our turbo product portfolio. It’s proof of the power of Honeywell synergy.”