1. Air Intake: The turboshaft engine begins with an air intake that draws in ambient air.
2. Compressor: The incoming air is then compressed by a series of rotating blades called compressor blades. The compression process increases the pressure and temperature of the air.
3. Combustion Chamber: The compressed air is directed into a combustion chamber, where it is mixed with fuel. The fuel is ignited, creating a hot gas mixture.
4. Turbine: The hot gas mixture from the combustion chamber expands and flows through a series of turbine blades, causing them to rotate. The turbine blades are connected to a rotating shaft.
5. Power Output: As the turbine blades rotate, they extract energy from the expanding gas and transfer it to the rotating shaft. This rotational energy is what powers the helicopter's rotors, transmission, and other systems.
6. Exhaust: The remaining hot gases from the turbine are expelled through an exhaust nozzle, generating additional thrust that helps counteract the weight of the helicopter.
Turboshaft engines are lightweight, powerful, and efficient, making them well-suited for helicopter applications where both high power and maneuverability are required. They provide the necessary rotational force to drive the helicopter's rotor system and enable vertical lift, hovering, and forward flight.
