How does a gas turbine help power a jet engine?

In a jet engine, the gas turbine serves as the "prime mover" or core, responsible for converting fuel energy into the mechanical energy needed to sustain engine operation and generate thrust.1

The process follows the Brayton cycle:
* Compression: Air is ingested and compressed by a compressor to a high pressure.2
* Combustion: Fuel is injected and burned in a combustion chamber, creating a high-pressure, high-temperature stream of gases.2
* Energy Extraction: This gas stream flows through the turbine. The turbine is linked by a torque shaft to the compressor, extracting energy from the gas to keep the compressor running.2
* Propulsion: Because the gas stream retains significant surplus energy after passing through the turbine, it is exhausted through a nozzle at high velocity to produce propulsive thrust.32

By continuously driving the compressor, the turbine ensures the engine can ingest and process the air required for sustained combustion and power generation.2