A gas turbine is a heat engine that uses high-temperature, high-pressure gas as the working fluid. Part of the heat supplied by the gas is converted directly into mechanical work – high temperature, high-pressure gas rushes out of the combustor and pushes against the turbine blades, causing them to rotate. In most cases, hot gas is obtained by burning a fuel in air, which is why gas turbines are often referred to as "combustion" turbines. Because gas turbines are compact, lightweight, and simple to operate, they are widely used in jet aircraft and electricity generation. Gas turbines are also used in university and industrial settings to produce electricity and steam. In such cases, "simple cycle" gas turbines convert a portion of input energy to electricity and use the remaining energy to produce steam in a steam generator. For utility applications, which require maximum electric power, a "combined cycle" steam turbine is added to convert steam to electricity.

        Domestic and global potential markets for advanced turbines is large. At least half of all new power generating capacity to be added between now and 2010 is likely to use gas turbines. EIA forecasts over 200 GW of new gas capacity additions in the United States between now and 2015.

Turbine Links:

• General Electric

• Kawasaki

• Man

• Mitsubishi

• Pratt & Whitney

• Siemens

• Solar Turbine

• Wabash Power Equipment

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