65.10 Turbine Engine Combustion Section

65.10.2 Describe the purpose and operation of the combustion chamber(s).

The combustion chamber is the section of a turbine engine where fuel is mixed with compressed air and burned to produce high-temperature gases.

During operation:

• compressed air from the compressor enters the combustion chamber;

• fuel is injected into the airflow through the fuel nozzles;

• the fuel-air mixture is ignited by the igniter plugs during starting;

• once combustion is established, it becomes self-sustaining and the igniters are normally no longer required; and

• the hot gases flow from the combustion chamber to the turbine, where their energy is used to produce power.

Combustion in a turbine engine takes place at approximately constant pressure. The major change through the combustion chamber is a large increase in gas temperature, rather than a large increase in pressure.

The combustion chamber is designed to: