Gas Turbine
Gas turbines developed for the propulsion of motor vehicles, operate on an open cycle with constant-pressure internal combustion. In a turbo charger, atmospheric air is compressed to 5 bar or more and then preheated by hot exhaust gases in a heat exchanger in order to improve the thermal efficiency. In the combustion chamber, liquid injected fuel is burned with the compressed hot air at constant pressure. Finally the combustion gases expand inside a turbine before they are released over the heat exchanger. One can distinguish between one and two-shaft gas turbines.
Based on current developmental trends, the two-shaft gas turbine is the predominant design. Here, the combustion gases expand in two mechanically independent gas turbines which are positioned in series.
The compressor and accessories are driven by a high-pressure turbine. The power output derived from the adjoining low-pressure turbine is exclusively available as useful output for vehicle propulsion.