How does a turbine engine simply work?
A turbine engine works by converting energy from high-speed exhaust gases into mechanical energy that drives a rotor. Here's a simplified breakdown of the process:
Air Intake: Air is drawn into the engine through an intake.
Compression: The incoming air is compressed by a series of rotating blades (compressors), which squeeze the air to a higher pressure and temperature.
Combustion: The compressed air is then mixed with fuel and ignited in a combustion chamber. The burning fuel-air mixture produces a high-temperature, high-pressure gas.
Turbine Stage: The hot, expanding gases flow through a turbine (a set of rotating blades). As the gases pass through the turbine, they spin the blades, which are connected to the same shaft as the compressors. This spins the compressors and keeps the cycle going.
Exhaust: Finally, the gases exit the engine at high speed through a nozzle, providing thrust (in jet engines) or driving additional components, like a helicopter rotor (in turboshaft engines).
This continuous cycle of compressing, igniting, expanding, and exhausting gases allows the turbine engine to generate power efficiently.
