The History of Turbine Engines

Development of the turbine engine began as early as 100 BC.

The history of turbine engines dates back to 100 BC Alexandria, when Hero, an Egyptian scientist, developed the "aeolipile," the first "jet engine," according to Air Cav, the Air Cavalry website. The first patented gas turbine, intended for jet propulsion, was designed by an Englishman, John Barber, in 1791. Aircraft Maintenance Technology indicates that the first genuine gas turbine engine was designed by Dr. F. Stolze in 1872.

Development

Hero's aeolipile was made of a boiler and two bent hollow tubes attached to a sphere. Steam entered the tubes from the boiler and when it exited the tubes on the sphere, it caused it to spin. The invention was used to open temple doors. Around 1500 AD, Leonardo da Vinci invented the "chimney jack." According to Air Cav, da Vinci's device utilized the heat from a roasting fire, using fanlike blades and gears, to turn a roasting skewer.

Rockets

It is believed that the Chinese accidentally developed the rocket around 1000 AD through the use of a defective firecracker, according to Air Cav. The Mongols used rockets as far back as 1232 to instill fear in enemy troops. Rockets have been used in the Napoleonic Wars, War of 1812 and by the Germans during World War II. Today rockets are used in the launching of space vehicles.

Steam

Giovanni Branca, an Italian engineer, invented the impulse turbine in 1629. It was a stamping mill (a mill that crushes ore) that was operated by a steam-powered turbine. The steam was directed to a horizontal turbine wheel from a jet nozzle. The wheel turned gears to operate the mill. Isaac Newton developed the steam wagon in 1687. The wagon was supposed to be propelled by steam from a nozzle, but it was unsuccessful due to insufficient steam power.

Aviation

In 1930 Frank Whittle applied for a patent for his gas turbine in England. The Air Ministry awarded a contract to his company in 1939 to design an engine for flight. The Whittle W1 engine was first put to use in May 1941. The plane had 100 lbs. of thrust and could reach 370 mph. In 1963, two German students, Hans von Ohain and Max Hahn, patented a jet-propulsion engine. This led to the first aircraft that was actually jet-propelled, achieving speeds of more than 400 mph. Secundo Campiri developed a reciprocating engine in Italy, which was first used in 1940. Air Cav indicates that in 1941 the United States entered the field of jet propulsion with England's help.

Newton

Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion, announced in 1687, had a significant impact on the development of turbine engines, according to Aircraft Maintenance Technology. The First Law indicates that objects remain in uniform motion unless external force is applied. The Second Law explains a relationship between an object's mass, acceleration and force. Newton's Third Law is that "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

References

• Air Cav: Background, Development and Theory
• Aircraft Maintenance Technology: Turbine Engine History