Now, the applicability of turbochargers is very wide, and today, as the technology gradually matures, it also has many different types:

Single-Turbo

Single turbocharger have infinite variability.

Large turbos will bring on high top-end power, but the smaller turbos spool faster.There are also different options for ball bearing and journal bearing single turbos.

Advantages

• Cost effective
• Easy installation
• Allows different engines to produce the same power

Disadvantages

• Slow response
• Have to choose between good low-end torque or better high-end power

Twin-Turbo

You could have two similarly sized turbos where one is used at low RPM and both are used at higher RPM.

Advantages

• For parallel twin turbos on ‘V’ shaped engines, the benefits (and drawbacks) are very similar to single turbo setups.
• For sequential turbos or using one turbo at low RPM and both at high RPM, this allows for a much wider, flatter torque curve.

Disadvantages

• More expensive and more complex than a single turbo
• There are lighter, more efficient ways of achieving similar results (as discussed below).

Twin-Scroll Turbo

By using two scrolls, the exhaust pulses are divided.Twin-scroll turbochargers are better in nearly every way than single-scroll turbos.

Advantages

• More power.
• Wider speed range
• More valve overlap is possible

Disadvantages

• Requires specific engine layout and exhaust design
• Cost and complexity versus traditional single turbos.

Variable Geometry Turbo(VGT)

VGTs are fairly common in diesel engines, but are probably one of the most idiosyncratic forms of turbocharger.Internal vanes within the turbocharger alter the area-to-radius (A/R) ratio to match the RPM.

Advantages

• Effective turbocharging at a very wide RPM range.
• In the case of a single turbo, change the structure of the turbo to work better.

Disadvantages

• Typically used only in diesel applications with less exhaust.
• In the case of gasoline engines, rarer metals and higher costs are required to maintain reliability.

Variable Twin Scroll Turbo

Combines Variable Geometry Turbochargers and Twin Scroll Turbochargers

Advantages

• Cheaper than VGTs Turbocharger
• Allows for a wide, flat torque curve.
• More robust

Disadvantages

• Higher cost and complexity than conventional twin-scroll or single-turbo.
• Technology is not mature

Electric Turbo

Throwing a powerful electric motor in the mix eliminates nearly all of the drawbacks of a turbocharger.

Advantages

• Connected directly to the compressor wheel, turbo lag and exhaust gas starvation can be eliminated.
• Wasted energy can be recovered
• A very wide effective RPM range with even torque throughout.

Disadvantages

• Cost and complexity need to be considered
• Packaging and weight become an issue
• In the same situation, VGTs or twin-scrolls may be a better choice