Gas Turbine Engine Fundamentals

Gas Turbine Engine Fundamentals

• A gas turbine engine has a compressor, combustor, and turbine
• The compressor increases the pressure of the incoming air
• The combustor adds fuel to the compressed air, and combustion takes place
• The turbine expands the hot gases, generating power to drive the compressor
• Axial flow compressors have components arranged along an axis
• The cold section of a gas turbine engine includes the inlet, compressor, and turbine sections
• The hot section includes the combustor, turbine, and exhaust sections
• A turbo jet engine accelerates a small mass of air at a high rate
• Bernoulli's Theorem states that the total energy (static + dynamic) of a flowing gas remains constant
• The working fluid in a gas turbine engine is air
• Jet engines derive thrust by the reaction of propelling gases on the outside air
• A turbine-driven propeller imparts a relatively small amount of acceleration to a large mass of air
• Turbojet and turbofan engines impart a relatively large amount of acceleration to a smaller mass of air
• In modern turboprop engines, nearly 50 percent of the exhaust gas energy is extracted by turbines to drive the propeller and compressor with the rest providing exhaust thrust

Gas Turbine Engine Fundamentals Questions and Answers

• On an axial flow, dual compressor forward fan engine, the fan turns the same speed as the low pressure turbine
• A turbojet engine gives large acceleration to a small mass of air
• The hot section of a basic gas turbine engine includes the combustor, turbine, and exhaust
• A jet engine derives its thrust by the reaction of the propelling gases
• The working fluid of a gas turbine engine is air
• Bernoulli's Theorem states that the total energy of a gas remains constant at any point in a flow
• The highest pressure in a gas turbine is just after the last compressor stage but before the burner
• The pressure of supersonic air, as it flows through a divergent nozzle, decreases
• An engine driven propeller imparts a relatively small amount of acceleration to a large mass of air

This quiz explores the core components and operational principles of gas turbine engines. Key topics include the functionality of the compressor, combustor, and turbine as well as the differences between turbojet and turbofan engines. Test your understanding of Bernoulli's Theorem and the mechanics of jet propulsion.