Aircraft engines are the fundamental part of any aircraft, the key to its efficiency.
For these reasons, engines are under constant research. Engineers are constantly trying to find new types of aircraft fuel to make them as efficient as possible in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs for the company.
Want to know about the different types of aircraft engines? Stay with us, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about engines!
In general aviation and ultralight aircraft, this type of engine is the norm, given the reduced cost to the airline and the safety they offer.
Piston engines are composed of elements such as connecting rods, crankshaft, cylinders and pistons, among others. As a curiosity, their operation is very similar to that of a car engine. And you should also know that, within the piston engines, there are two other types: the Otto Cycle and the Diesel.
We invite you to learn more about the Otto engine and discover how it works in the video below.
Did you know that turbine engines make it possible to fly safer, faster and higher? It’s no wonder that commercial aircraft began adopting turbine engines in the mid-1930s, thanks to their superior performance compared to piston engines.
Understanding how these engines work can be a challenge initially, but we’ll explain it very easily:
But there’s more! Don’t miss it! Within turbine engines, there are several subcategories, depending on how the energy produced is put to use.
The turbofan is the most commonly used model in modern commercial aircraft.
Have you ever flown in an aeroplane and seen a large turbine located at the engine inlet? Well, it is responsible for generating most of the power and supplying air to both the internal and external routing of the engine.
Turbofan engines have facilitated a significant reduction in aircraft fuel consumption compared to conventional turbine engines.
Turbofan engines are becoming more and more efficient, with experts enlarging the diameter of the engine to achieve this. This has led to such curious situations as aircraft such as the Boeing 777X having engines with a diameter equal to that of the Boeing 737 fuselage.
They look like piston engines, you may have seen one and thought they were that. However, the truth is that they are very different.
Turboprop engines share the same characteristics and performance as any other turbine engine, with the singularity that the energy generated is used to propel a propeller.
These engines are used on smaller aircraft operating on regional routes, but should not be confused with those of a light aircraft.
Although they are very similar to turboprop engines, no propeller is driven, but all power is transmitted through a shaft.
Turboshaft engines are widely used in helicopters because of their light weight and size, relative to the power they can generate.
This type of turbine was the first to be used. It is not currently used commercially, but its power allows it to continue to be the engine used in fighters.
The turbojet, unlike the other turbine engines, gets all its thrust from the force generated by the gases leaving the engine after combustion.
Despite being very powerful, airlines stopped using this model due to its low efficiency.
These engines are used on smaller aircraft operating on regional routes, but should not be confused with those of a light aircraft.
Without the development of aircraft engines, aeronautics would not be the same today. Each aircraft needs a different type of engine, which is recommended by the manufacturers themselves.
We hope that you have found this article useful, and that the next time you travel by plane, you will be able to tell the difference between the different engines.
If you want to stay updated with all the latest news and curiosities about aviation, take a look at our aviation blog – you’ll be surprised!
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