Gas Turbine Engines

Gas turbine engines date back to the early 1940's. Sir Frank Wittle, a British aeronautical engineer and aviator, invented the turbojet engine (The World Almanac Educational Group, 2002, p. 1). Gas turbine engines took off, and have been soaring ever since. They offer an unmatched power to weight ratio, which make them ideal for many applications. This essay will describe the process of a gas turbine engine, as well as explain some new advances and futuristic technologies associated with GTE's, by answering the following questions:

1. What exactly is a gas turbine engine?

2. How is a gas turbine engine different from a reciprocating engine?

3. What are some new advances with gas turbine engines?

4. What is the future for gas turbine engines?

What exactly is a gas turbine engine?

Turbine engines are used in aircraft and on boats. Some smaller gas turbine engines are even used to produce electrical power, drive pumps, and generate steam. "Turbine engines are relatively simple, at least insofar as their parts count is concerned. And they are also tough and reliable, so they rarely fail in any circumstances" (Aarons, 2001, p. 52). In the Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, Dale Crane defines a gas tur

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

It is a one-half inch diameter device that uses high-frequency magnetic flux to sense metal blade tip position during engine operation.

Another great invention on the horizon is the Eddy Current Sensor (ECS), which was patented in 1999. 267)

As confusing as this process sounds, there are far fewer moving parts than any other type of combusting engine. It also poses a greater risk of malfunctioning. The mechanical properties of both are similar to the widely used nickel-based, high-temperature 718 superalloy. It's more than just applying a coating--it's understanding how the coating interacts with the metal and the environment of the engine at high temperatures" (Popular Mechanics, 1997, p. If that initial effort meets success, the researchers plan to use similar lithographic techniques to construct another radial inflow turbine engine from silicon carbide, a refractory ceramic material (Ashley, 1997, p. Only one shutdown for an annual inspection is necessary, as opposed to the regular shutdowns of oil changes on reciprocating engines" (1999, p. Hot washing evaporates the cleaning fluid, reducing the risk of corrosion and eliminating the need to dispose of the effluent.

What are some new advances with the engines?

Gas turbine engine engineers are constantly looking for new materials that are lighter, stronger, and corrosion resistant. The average commercial airplane flying today is almost twenty years old, and their engines are now in need of constant upkeep and repair (Schonfeld, 1995, p. 108)

Another material that has been in development for decades is ceramics.

Approximate Word count = 1466
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.