From wind and water to steam and gas, turbines play a crucial role in energy generation. Wind turbines harness the power of wind, hydro turbines utilize water, steam turbines drive power plants, and gas turbines, like those found in aircraft engines, are propelled by combustion gases.

What is a turbine?

A turbine generates power through the rotation of a rotor, converting the kinetic energy of a fluid (water, steam, wind, or combustion gases) into this rotational mechanical energy. The fluid strikes the turbine blades, causing them — and the connected rotor — to spin. This mechanical output can then drive a generator for electricity production or power other mechanical loads.

What is a turbine engine?

The high efficiency, reliability, and ability to generate substantial thrust of turbine engines have made them the most widely used engine type in aviation. They also play a role in power generation at some power plants. These engines are frequently called jet engines.

Turbine engines operate by drawing air from the atmosphere. The air is then compressed in the compressor section, where rotating blades and stationary vanes work together to increase its pressure. Inside the combustion chamber, fuel is injected and mixed with the compressed air, then ignited, creating a powerful, hot gas stream. This high-energy gas flows through the turbine, causing it to rotate. The turbine’s rotation drives the compressor, ensuring a continuous supply of compressed air. The hot gases then exit the engine at high speed through the exhaust nozzle, generating thrust.

In this engine design, the turbine’s primary function is not to provide propulsion directly but rather to power the compressor. This configuration is found in older turbojet engines and, more commonly, in the turbofan engines used in most modern commercial aircraft. Turbofan engines are distinguished by a large fan at the front, which is driven by the turbine and contributes to both improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise.

In contrast, smaller aircraft and helicopters often use the turbine for direct propulsion, employing two main engine types: turboprops and turboshafts. Turboprop engines, common in smaller aircraft, use the turbine to drive a propeller through a reduction gearbox, optimizing propeller speed for lower flight speeds while allowing the turbine to operate efficiently. The exhaust gases from a turboprop engine provide minimal thrust, as the turbine’s power is almost entirely used to drive the propeller. Turboshaft engines, typically used in helicopters and some industrial applications, use the turbine’s mechanical energy to directly power rotors or other machinery.

Turbine engines operate by combusting fuel to produce high-pressure gases that drive a turbine. In some designs, like jet engines, the primary purpose is to generate thrust directly. In other designs, including turboprop and turboshaft engines, the turbine’s rotation is the main output, used to power a propeller (turboprops) or a rotor (turboshafts).