Gas turbines

1
Gas turbines

• Newer type of internal combustion engine.
• Used in jets and some electric power plants
• Air pulled in the front and compressed in a
  compressor. (The rotating fan-like structure you
  see when you look into a jet engine).
• Air is mixed with fuel and ignited, this heated
  mixture expands.
• Expanding gas moves through the turbine, which is
  connected to the compressor by a rotating shaft.
• Hot gases are expelled with a greater velocity
  than the intake air, giving the engine is thrust.

2
Gas Turbines

• For electricity generation, the power output
  turbine turns the shaft.
• For aircraft, the gas is expelled out the jet
  nozzle.

3
Gas Turbines

• 20-30 efficiency converting thermal energy to
  mechanical energy
• Lightweight
• Respond quickly to changing power demands
• Relatively cheap for public utilities
• Limitations are the need for materials to
  withstand T 1000 C and the high rotation speeds