|
Powering the
F-22
The F-22 Raptor is powered by two Pratt & Whitney
F119-PW-100 turbofan jet engines. The F119-PW-100 is the most powerful
fighter jet engine ever developed, with a maximum thrust of 39,000 lbs.
By comparison, the second highest jet engine thrust is 29,000 pounds,
put in the F-16 fighter. The two turbofan engines give the F-22 a top
speed of Mach 2.42, or 1,600 mph!
http://www.f22fighter.com/mg7.gif
How a Turbofan Engine Works
A gas turbofan engine is made up
of three basic parts:
1. Compressor: A cone-shaped cylinder with small fan blades attached in
rows. It's job is to compress the incoming air to high pressure and
direct the air towards the combustion area.
2. Combustion area: The high pressure air from the compressor enters
the combustion area where a ring of fuel injectors injects a steady
stream of fuel into the air, and then the fuel-air mixture is ignited.
3. Turbine: The high-velocity exhaust gas that exits the combustion
chamber exerts force against the turbine blades and causes them to
turn. The turbine is connected to part 1 of the engine, the compressor,
and the energy created by spinning the turbine in turn spins the
compressor, which draws in more air, and the whole cycle is started
over again.
The beauty of the turbofan engine is that the compressor is turned by
air that has already traveled through the engine.
http://www.keveney.com/jets.html
The three basic parts of the turbofan engine are
shown from left to right: 1. Compressor, 2. Combustion area, 3. Turbine
http://www.f-22raptor.com/af_engines.php
The inside of the Pratt
& Whitney
F119-PW-100. Notice the three basic parts of a turbofan engine are
shown.
|