Turbocharger Diesel vs Petrol

[exelero]

Could anyone tell me if there is any difference between a turbocharger for a petrol engine and one for diesel? In theory there should be no difference, or is there?
Thanks

[helix402]

Petrol turbos often have water cooling.

[otolith]

Variable geometry turbos are more common on diesels.

[stevieturbo]

exelero said:

Could anyone tell me if there is any difference between a turbocharger for a petrol engine and one for diesel? In theory there should be no difference, or is there?
Thanks

In theory there could be many differences...or none. Depends on the actual application.

[Richard-D]

In a general sense they are the same. You have a turbine wheel driven by the exhaust gasses that drives a compressor wheel via a common shaft. This compressor wheel is used to pressurise (for the sake of simplicity please don't lets start pedantry about flow and pressure) the inlet air.

There are differences between petrol and diesel turbos that allow them to work more efficiently in their role but they basically work in the same way.