E-assist turbocharger with bleed fluid system connecting compressor section to web ring of turbine section for thrust load suppression

A method of manufacturing a turbocharger comprising:

• providing a housing and a rotating group;
• and
• supporting the rotating group within the housing, the rotating group including a compressor wheel that cooperates with the housing to define a compressor section of the turbocharger, the rotating group including a turbine wheel that cooperates with the housing to define a turbine section, the turbine wheel including a bleed pressure surface;
• and
• fluidly connecting the compressor section to the turbine section via a bleed passage that extends at least partly through the housing, the bleed passage configured to direct a bleed flow of fluid from the compressor section to the bleed pressure member to supply a thrust counterbalance load to the bleed pressure surface.

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a fuel cell stack;
• and
• a turbocharger including:
• a housing;
• a rotating group supported for rotation within the housing, the rotating group including a compressor wheel disposed within a compressor section of the turbocharger, the rotating group including a turbine wheel disposed within a turbine section of the turbocharger, the turbine wheel including a bleed pressure member with a bleed pressure surface;
• and
• a bleed passage that extends at least partly through the housing to fluidly connect the compressor section to the turbine section;
• the turbocharger operatively connected to the fuel cell stack with the compressor section configured to supply a compressed airstream to the fuel cell stack and the turbine section configured to receive an exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack;
• the bleed passage configured to direct a bleed flow of fluid from the compressor section to the bleed pressure member to supply a thrust counterbalance load to the bleed pressure surface.