ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Compressor map

A compressor map is like a treasure map for a special machine called a turbocharger. The turbocharger is like a little helper for a car's engine, and it helps the engine make more power by pushing more air into it.

The turbocharger has a tiny little spinning fan that works like a mini windmill. As the exhaust gas from the engine moves past the windmill, it spins it really fast. This spinning fan is connected to another fan that sucks in air from outside and compresses it.

However, the turbocharger also has limits, if it compresses too much air, the engine won't be able to handle it, and if it compresses too little air, the engine won't make enough power.

To help the driver of the car understand when the turbocharger is working at its best, engineers have created a special map. This map looks like a bunch of squiggly lines and numbers, but it is really a guide to help the driver know when the turbocharger is working just right.

The map shows the driver how much air the turbocharger is compressing and at what speed. If the driver stays in the green area, the turbocharger is working just right, and the engine will be happy. But if the driver goes into the red area, the turbocharger will be compressing too much air, and the engine could get hurt. In a similar fashion, the blue area represents the regions where the turbine does not produce enough compressed air to power the engine correctly.

So, a compressor map is a special map that tells the driver how much air the turbocharger is compressing and at what speed, so they will not damage the engine.