How Does Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines Work?

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The modern commercial aircraft is a grand sized, heavy vehicle that requires a tremendous amount of power to successfully transport passengers over long distances. Currently, the method in which aircraft are able to achieve efficient and sustained flight is through propulsion systems such as the gas turbine jet engine. With an engine and the various aircraft turbine engine components within, passenger planes are able to overcome the forces of gravity and provide the air travel that we know and rely on today. In this blog, we will discuss what a turbine engine is, and how the internal jet engine parts work together to provide thrust.

While there are multiple iterations of gas turbine jet engines that have developed over the years since their invention, there are some basic components and elements that serve as their standard. All gas turbines produce thrust by taking in and compressing air. The air is then mixed with fuel before it is combusted, and the resulting energy harnessed to produce thrust. To achieve these common functions of the gas turbine engine, all turbines have parts such as the compressor, combustor, and downstream turbine.

For the gas turbine jet engine to function, it first needs to draw in large amounts of air. This is achieved by the first section, the fan, which is placed at the front of the engine. During flight, the fan blades spin and bring air into the engine for the turbines and for the compressor to continue through the engine. Once air is brought into the system, it enters the compressor where it undergoes high amounts of pressure from blades that divide it into sections, increasing the oxygen density as volume decreases. After compression, fuel is sprayed into the compressed air via a nozzle and the combustor ignites the mixture with an igniter, creating hot gasses that rapidly expand and reach upwards of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit within the turbine engine.

With rapidly expanding gases, the engine has the energy it needs to drive the next section, which is the turbines. These blades are spun with the hot, pressurized gas as it leaves the combustor. The turbine blades function to power the entire system as they spin, and gas that passes through the turbines is then directed to the nozzle for the final stage. As air leaves the nozzle, exhaust is expelled, and the resulting force of exiting gas is what propels the aircraft forward, helping it achieve thrust and flight. The nozzle can be shaped to help speed up the gas as it exits, affecting the power and thrust that is produced by the exhaust.

Although the aircraft turbine engine components may vary slightly from engine to engine, the basic principles and jet engine parts remain mostly the same. When it comes time to build, repair, or maintain your gas turbine jet engine, look no further than ASAP Buying. Our expert staff is on hand to provide you with quick lead-times to help speed up your parts procurement process, and our dedicated account managers are on hand to aid you with the purchasing process as needed.

At ASAP Buying, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find jet engine parts and other aviation components you need, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B accredited and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise and the only independent distributor with a no China sourcing policy. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asapbuying.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.

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1. danial jones
2. Posted on February 25, 2020
aviation

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