Turbopropulsie

Turbopropulsie is a type of aircraft engine that combines features of a turbojet engine and a propeller. Essentially, it's a gas turbine engine that drives a propeller through a reduction gearbox. The gas turbine itself operates like a turbojet, drawing in air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel, and igniting the mixture. This combustion process creates hot, expanding gases. However, instead of expelling all these gases out the back to create thrust, a significant portion of the energy from the expanding gases is used to turn a turbine. This turbine is connected via a shaft to a propeller, which is located at the front of the engine. The propeller then generates the majority of the thrust, similar to a conventional propeller-driven aircraft. The remaining hot gas is expelled from the engine, providing a small amount of additional jet thrust. This dual method of thrust generation makes turboprop engines highly efficient, particularly at medium altitudes and speeds. They offer better fuel economy and takeoff performance compared to pure turbojets at lower speeds. Turboprops are commonly found on regional airliners, cargo planes, and some military aircraft due to their efficiency and robust performance.