Introduction to gas turbine

Gas turbine is one of the most advanced technology ever developed. The scope of it just keeps increasing everyday with no limit to it's growth. Developed by a common interest of ideas in the late eighteenth century by many researchers, it developed vastly to become one of the most important technology used today. When the name gas turbine pops up, it's uses are not limited aerodynamically as everyone would think. It is also used for ground and marine purposes which are called mechanical drive gas turbines.



 The turbines  used for airborne purposes are called turbojets, turboprops, turbofans. A typical gas turbine consists of mainly four components. They are the inlet section, compressor, combustion chamber/ combustor and the turbine.


 As the name suggests, the inlet section is where the air enters the turbine. This air must be devoid of any impurities which can deteriorate the life of the the turbine such as condensed air, sand or water.


The compressor is responsible for compressing the air to a very high pressure. This high temperature compressed air then enters the combustion chamber where the liquid fuel is injected through the nozzle. The gases which are produced as a result start expanding as they pass through the turbine which makes the stationary blades of the to rotate which  produces the net output. A certain amount of the output is used for running the compressor approximately 55-65%. The remaining output is used for the required applications. The output of gas turbines ranges from 4 MW to 400 MW which is equivalent to running about 50 Formula One cars !

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