Chapter VIII: Turbine Engine Design and Construction, Book Review Example

Turbine Engines, as defined in this chapter, plays a great role on making aircrafts operate on air. The chapter further explains that turbine engines of aircrafts are relatively expected to work under pressure especially when the plane is already on air. To be able to distinctively define what turbine engines are, how they work and what specific roles they take in operating aircrafts, the chapter opens up with the discussion on turbo engines namely that of the (a) turbo jet engines, (b) turbo prop engines, (c) turbo fan engines. Through discussing and differentiating the characteristics of the said engines, considerable indication on what specific measures of careful conditions of operation have been presented. This is especially true when dealing with the actual flight schedules to which the turbines are supposed to respond to.

Each section of the turbines have been further explored in the chapter to make an indication on how each part gives support to the whole system thus distinctively allowing the aircraft to perform according to expectation. The sections mentioned in the chapter include the inlet section, the compressor section, the combustion section, the turbine section, the exhaust section and the accessory section. The reason behind the provision of intricate discussion on all these specific parts of each section is that of the desire to define how each part should be included on the investigation procedures when accidents occur in relation to turbine malfunction.

What makes a turbine engine perform to the best limit of its capacity is the manner by which it is maintained. Airline administrators are of course directed to mandate specific policies especially relating to maintaining and inspecting turbine engines. It is through this approach that administrators are able to assure that the turbine engines [one of the most crucial parts of the aircraft] would be able to deliver proper service and performance as needed. Specific points have been given attention in this section of the chapter. Inspection and cleaning are considered to be the most crucial part of maintenance. Keeping record on when and who cleaned the turbine engine as scheduled is an important element considered when it comes to completing investigations especially in relation to occurring aircraft accidents. The reading further imposes that even a single schedule of cleaning and inspection that is missed could cause the failure of the turbine engine’s function, which would evidently endanger the lives of the pilots, the passengers and everyone and everything in the aircraft.

The causes of blade damage in most turbine engines usually distinctively offer a specific course of jeopardized performance of the said part of the aircraft during flight. This is the reason why this chapter provides exact indications on how blade damages occur and how they could be prevented on hand. To help in the process of investigation, this chapter also indicates the distinction on how blade damages could be identified according to the remains of the turbine engine incase the accident does put its integrity into question. Overall, the collective discussion presented in this chapter provides a clear indication on how turbine engines, their performance and their failure to function could be identified through proper protocols of investigation. Aside from such consideration in relation to accident occurrences, the chapter also provides a clear definition on how practical operations of proper maintenance and specific condition of assuring clearances of turbine engine operation before aircraft takeoff does protect the lives of the passengers and save the investment of the airline companies as well. The information noted in this chapter help a lot in defining how turbine engines could be specifically managed to assure proper performance for long time operations of transport and transfer. This would further improve how turbine engines are developed as well as maintained to keep track of efficient and dependable performance.

References:

Osler, Adrian (October 1981). “Turbinia”. (ASME-sponsored booklet to mark the designation of Turbinia as an international engineering landmark). Tyne And Wear County Council Museums.

Layton, Edwin T. “From Rule of Thumb to Scientific Engineering: James B. Francis and the Invention of the Francis Turbine,” NLA Monograph Series. Stony Brook, NY: Research Foundation of the State University of New York, 1992.

Walsh, Philip P.; Paul Fletcher (2004). Gas Turbine Performance (2nd ed.). John Wiley and Sons. p. 25.

Kay, Antony. (2002). German Jet Engine and Gas Turbine Development 1930-1945, Airlife Publishing.