Gas turbine

type of internal combustion engine

A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine.[1] The simplest form has three main parts:

  • A rotating gas compressor (SP in the diagram) to compress air
  • A combustion chamber, called a combustor (KS in the diagram) where fuel is injected
  • A turbine (TG in the diagram) on the same shaft as the compressor
Simplified diagram of a gas turbine

The diagram shows a single-shaft gas turbine. One turbine drives both the compressor and the load, such as an electric generator. There are also two-shaft gas turbines, with separate turbines to drive the compressor and the load. Two-shaft turbines are better for driving road and rail vehicles because they can give more torque at low speed.

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  1. A Dictionary of Aviation, David W. Wragg. ISBN 9780850451634, 1st Edition Published by Osprey, 1973 / Published by Frederick Fell, Inc., NY, 1974 (1st American Edition.), Page 141.

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