Turbine Engine Classification, Benefits and Application - Research Paper Example

Introduction A turbine engine is a machine that consists of combustion chambers, inlet, turbine section and a compressor. The thrust is produced by the turbine engines which increase the air flowing in them. The turbine engine has a number of advantages which imclude its increased aircraft performance, reliability, less vibration and ease with which it can be operated. Turbine engines are classified according to the compressors they use, which include ; i. axial flow, ii. centrifugal axial flow and iii. centrifugal flow. When the air outward is accelerated, compression of air inlet is achieved in a centrifugal flow to longitudinal axis of that machine. The axial-flow engine functions by compressing the air through a series of rotating and stationary air-foils which in turm move the air parallel to the longitudinal axis. The centrifugalaxial flow design on the other hand, uses both kinds of compressors in order to achieve the desired compression. Types of Turbine Engines 1. Turbojet This machine has four sections: turbine section, combustion chamber, compressor and the exhaust. Inlet air passes through the compressor section at a high rate of speed to the combustion chamber. In combustion chamber there are fuel inlet and the igniter for combustion. The turbine is driven by the expanding air which is connected to the compressor by a shaft to sastain the engine operation. This kind of engines are limited in terms of range and endurance. 2. Turboprop A turboprop engine is a turbine engine machine that divides a propeller through a reduction gear. Power turbine connected by a shaft is driven by the exhaust gases, and this drives the reduction gear assembly. Optimum propeller performance which is achieved at low speeds is brought about by the reduction gear. These machines are most efficient at high speeds of between 250 and 400 m.p.h, and also performe well at slow airspeeds. These machines are nowadays used in small airliners and transport aircraft which are sufficient for landing and required for takeoff. 3. Turbofan This turbofan engine machine combine the best features of the turbojet and the turboprop. Turbofan engines are designed to increase thrust by diverting the air flow around the combustion chamber. This only increase the thrust without increasing the fuel consumption. This is because it increades the total mass of air passing through the engine reducing the velocity within the same energy supplied. Most air lines nowadays are powered by turbofan engines. 4. Turboshafts This machine is widely used in helicopters. Its a form of gas-turbine engine. It drives the helicopter rotor though it does not have a propeller. This machine is designed to keep that speed of the helicopter indipendent from rotating speed of gas generator. 5. Ramjets This machine is the simplest jet engine mostly because it has no moving parts. It is actually a turbojet engine,without the roatating machinery inside the engine. The ramjets does not produce static thrust and if any, very little, and that is when the speed is below the speed of the sound. A vehicle using ramjet engine cannot take off by itself. This engine can only be used in space vehicles and in guided missile systempress the air. Jet engines always work on the same principle. The engine uses a fan to suck the air at the front. The pressure of the air is raised by a compressor. This compressor is made up of fans with many blades which are attached to a shaft (Jim, 1946). These blades are used to compress the air. The air which is compressed is then sprayed with electric spark and fuel where the electric spark lights the mixture. Isaac Newton’s third law of physics, which states that for every action there is equal and opposite reaction demonstrates the thrust created in turbojet (Marshall:2). Propeller attached to the turbines are rotated by exhaust gases in turboprop engines. They also incorporate fun to produce additional thrust. Turbine engines requires low maintenance and has statistical reliability and power which are making them attractive. Installation of safe reliable turbine engines has atarted to become possible to onwer of private aeroplanes. There has been success in installing and flying these engines which has drawn attention of the industry where other manufactures are trying to duplicate the achivements. Though the turbine engine airplanes are increasing in use, they are best suited to the demands of performance afictionados. The turbine powered engines on the other hand are not suitable for everyone. The following factors make them vary; Price- when it comes to the price of turbine engines, they are not cheap and hence not many people will be in a position to afford them. The budget cosideration continue to be a significant factor. Familiarity- very few pilots can operate the turbine engines for pilots have no experience using the turbines. In the small towns it becomes difficult maintaining the turbine engines for maintenance facilities have no experience maintaining them. In UK the govrnment has commitet itsels to a goal of tripling the amount of power that the country gets from onshore winds. It is also planning to improve the use of turbine engines by use of power generated by onshore wind. So far there are enough wind farms which are already in the planning system to meet the target of having the 13GW of onshore wind capacity (Bob, 2000). The government is also tring to come up with small turbines which will help indivinduals cutting on costs of energy. Wind turbine engines are introduced in UK where they are used for powering a farm house. The governmenr is also commited to reducing gases in greenhouse within the UK. It is anticipated that wind energy will provide significant contribution to renewable energy target. This will significantly reduce the cost of energy in UK. Larger more efficient blades are are being created for they are key step for the whole industry in paving the way for more turbines which in turn help bring the cost of generating electricity down References Bob, S. (2000). The Chrysler Gas Turbine Project. Jim B. (1946). Plymouth Turbine Carsby Marshall B. How Gas Turbine Engines Work Read More