The Jet Engine
Sir Frank Whittle
The development of the Jet Engine has made world wide
travel possible for all of us. The Jet Engine is faster than the propeller
engine and is more economical on fuel.
Quite simply the Jet Engine sucks air in at the front
and propels it out at high speeds at the back. The engine is forced forwards
as the air streams backwards. The engine has to be powered by a fuel,
this may be kerosene or paraffin.
On large airplanes at the front of the engine can be found
large fans which rotate. When they turn they draw air in. Some of this
air is passed to the compressors, which contain blades. Some of these
blades are stationary whilst some of them rotate.
These compressors raise the air pressure, which then flow
to the combusters or the combustion engine. In this chamber the burning
paraffin heats the air which then expands. This hot air which is under
pressure rushes towards the exhaust, but first passes through the turbines
which drive the compressors and the fans.
The rest of the air that is sucked in is used to cool
and quieten the engine and then joins the heated air. This large amount
of air that leaves the engine forces the aircraft forwards at very fast
speeds.
The principle of jet propulsion is based upon Newton's
Third Law of Motion: ''To every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction.''