What are the pros and cons of tangential housing vs. on-center? Do compressor and turbine housings have the option of tang. or on-center housings?

 

There are some proprietary compressor housings, or covers, that will have oddly shaped and positioned outlets, but the specifications of "tangential" and "on-center" are mostly reserved for exhaust housings. A tangential housing is supposed to flow more than an on-center housing. However, there are many installation circumstances regarding placement and tube routing that will benefit from an on-center housing. For what it's worth, most of the very high performance turbochargers use a tangential exhaust housing.

 

Why does tangential flow more than on-center?

 

The tangential housing introduces the air tangentially to the turbine. The on-center housing introduces the air such that it creates more back pressure. The exhaust flow enters the flange and it encounters a wall in the casting to force it into a tangential flow path. Basically, the on-center housing has a sharp bend in the flow path which creates resistance to the flow of exhaust gas.

 

Kinda thought so looking at it, but wasn't quite sure, thanks!