gas turbine

Engine in which burning fuel supplies hot gas to spin a turbine. The most widespread application of gas turbines has been in aviation. All jet engines (see under jet propulsion) are modified gas turbines, and some locomotives and ships also use gas turbines as a power source.

They are also used in industry for generating and pumping purposes.

In a typical gas turbine a multivaned compressor draws in and compresses air. The compressed air enters a combustion chamber at high pressure, and fuel is sprayed in and ignited. The hot gases produced escape through the blades of (typically) two turbines and spin them around. One of the turbines drives the compressor; the other provides the external power that can be harnessed.