Question: I am a mechanical engineering third year student. I recently learned about automatic transmission systems and the Torque Converter.

I wish to know if the Torque Converter can be used in a Manual Transmission Vehicle? I think it will avoid many driving problems and make driving easy.

Do you think this is economic and efficient? Keen to know your thoughts.

Response:

A torque converter is a fluid coupling device used primarily in automatic transmissions to transfer and amplify the torque produced by the engine. It does allow for smoother gear changes and for the vehicle to be stationary while the engine is running. This indeed improves ease of driving, particularly in stop-and-go traffic.

However, integrating a torque converter into a manual transmission vehicle poses some difficulties and inefficiencies:

1. Contradictory Operations: Manual transmissions are designed to engage and disengage the engine and drivetrain via a clutch. This is in contrast to the torque converter operation, which never fully disconnects the engine from the transmission.

2. Efficiency Loss: Torque converters suffer from some efficiency loss because they use a fluid coupling, which is not as efficient as a direct mechanical connection. This loss is mitigated in modern automatic transmissions through the use of a lock-up clutch in the torque converter, but it still exists.

3. Complexity and Cost: Adding a torque converter to a manual transmission would increase the complexity of the vehicle, potentially leading to higher costs for production, maintenance, and repair. It also adds weight to the vehicle, which can decrease fuel efficiency.

4. Driving Experience: Manual transmissions are often chosen for their direct feedback and control, which a torque converter could dilute. The use of a torque converter could also negate the need for a clutch pedal, which would fundamentally change the driving experience of a manual transmission vehicle.

In general, the trend in transmission design has been towards dual-clutch transmissions and continuously variable transmissions, which offer the benefits of both manual and automatic transmissions.

These designs can provide the smoothness and ease of an automatic while still offering efficiency and performance.

Manual transmissions are increasingly being chosen for their driving experience rather than their efficiency or performance.

So while it might be theoretically possible to integrate a torque converter into a manual transmission, it is not necessarily economical or efficient.

It's also worth noting that doing so could change the nature of a manual transmission to the point where it's more akin to an automatic.