If you are looking for what does a torque converter do, you need to read this article. A torque converter is a hydrodynamic fluid coupling that replaces a clutch in automatic transmissions.

A typical torque converter has three main parts: the impeller, turbine, and stator.

The impeller is designed to multiply the fluid flow from the turbine, converting it into torque.

The Impeller

An impeller is a rotor used to induce flow or raise the pressure in water. They are also part of centrifugal pumps.

A pump uses the impeller to push fluid through an outlet, a pipe, or a duct. Similarly, an air pump uses an impeller to move air through the system.

In a pump, the impeller is a series of curved vanes fitted inside the shroud plates. The impeller can be made of brass or plastic to reduce cost.

When the impeller rotates, it also turns the fluid around it. It does this by moving the rotor, which has curved vanes.

The difference between the pump and turbine speeds determines a torque converter’s ability to multiply torque. This factor changes depending on the design of the unit’s impeller, turbine, and other components.

The Turbine

The turbine of an industrial torque converter uses a flowing fluid to turn its blades. The fluid may be gas, steam, water, or a mixture of these or other working fluids.

The fluid passes through curved inter blade channels formed by the moving blade surfaces. These channels are designed to provide the optimum flow passage for the liquid at a definite impeller-to-turbine speed ratio, known as the design point.

A multistage turbine stage is built with velocity and pressure stages, with guide vane cascades between them. In the velocity stages, most of the total heat drop sets the row of rotating blades into rotation.

The difference between pump and turbine speeds remains high during acceleration, so torque multiplication is less than in stall conditions. This condition is called the “stall phase.” It lasts for a brief period when the load (e.g., vehicle) initially starts to move.

The Stator

The stator is a vital torque converter in the center between the turbine and the pump. Its job is to redirect the fluid from the turbine before it hits the pump again, dramatically increasing the converter’s efficiency.

Every rotating electrical machine, such as motors and generators, has two main parts: the stator and the rotor. The stator is the stationary part of these rotary electromagnetic devices, consisting of an outer frame, core, and windings.

When an electrical current is applied to the stator, it creates a magnetic field that attracts the opposite poles of the rotor.

The rotor is the rotating part of these rotary electromagnetic devices, and it has two basic shapes; a circular blade or an elliptical one. The rotor lags the magnetic field by an amount proportional to its torque.

The Housing

Torque converters are a crucial part of any automatic transmission car. They use fluid couplings to transfer the power from your engine to your transmission.

As the engine spins, fluid enters the torque converter via a pump and moves around the device as the crankshaft drives it. This creates a turbine that rotates as the liquid comes in and goes out, helping to gauge the amount of power transmitted through the transmission.

Once this fluid exits the turbine, it goes into the stator. The stator comprises a succession of fan-type blades, each with angled edges that reverse their direction when the fluid flows through them.

This keeps the fluid from hitting the housing of the torque converter and slowing it down. The stator is also designed as a diffuser.