7 or 11 blade billet wheel?
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7 or 11 blade billet wheel? Looking at upgrading my twin 60-1's with billet compressor wheels. Have the option of 7 blade or 11 blade. I have no idea what advantage or application one has over the other. Why the different blade count?
Launching!
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
Blade count alone doesn't tell you much about the performance of a compressor wheel. The entire design needs to be considered. That being said, most modern designs in common sizes have gradually moved toward less blades. We make the most power in 6-blade applications quite often, but it really is a "whole package" type deal.
Jack
Jack
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Blade count alone doesn't tell you much about the performance of a compressor wheel. The entire design needs to be considered. That being said, most modern designs in common sizes have gradually moved toward less blades. We make the most power in 6-blade applications quite often, but it really is a "whole package" type deal.
Jack
Jack
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From: Gold Country California
To sort of answer my own question, I found this from Turbo Lab. What I got out of it is, for a street car with less than 25PSI boost, the 11 blade is optimal. Race car or 30+PSI, less blades. Extended tip wheels are the way to go either way.
From a Turbo Lab article:
The reason for changing the number compressor blades is to determine at what rpm the turbo will flow the most air. The less number of blades the more air it will flow at higher boost levels compared to a compressor wheel with more blades. A compressor wheel with more blades will flow very well at higher boost levels(~30 psi) but will not flow as well at lower boost levels. The Lower the blade count on the compressor wheel will help the turbo flow more air than the same compressor wheel with more blades. The more blades on a compressor wheel will help the compressor wheel have a peak flow at lower boost levels (20-25 psi). However some companies have started to make compressor wheels taller to allow a compressor wheel with more blades to grab more air and to flow better at higher boost levels as well. You will see taller 11 blade compressor wheels in the GTX series compressor wheels which are created by garret. The higher the blade count also helps with spool time, because it captures more air at lower rpm of the turbo. The choice of compressor wheel depends on the what your goals are as far as spool time and the boost level that you plan to run.
From a Turbo Lab article:
The reason for changing the number compressor blades is to determine at what rpm the turbo will flow the most air. The less number of blades the more air it will flow at higher boost levels compared to a compressor wheel with more blades. A compressor wheel with more blades will flow very well at higher boost levels(~30 psi) but will not flow as well at lower boost levels. The Lower the blade count on the compressor wheel will help the turbo flow more air than the same compressor wheel with more blades. The more blades on a compressor wheel will help the compressor wheel have a peak flow at lower boost levels (20-25 psi). However some companies have started to make compressor wheels taller to allow a compressor wheel with more blades to grab more air and to flow better at higher boost levels as well. You will see taller 11 blade compressor wheels in the GTX series compressor wheels which are created by garret. The higher the blade count also helps with spool time, because it captures more air at lower rpm of the turbo. The choice of compressor wheel depends on the what your goals are as far as spool time and the boost level that you plan to run.
