Re:Lilium unveils five-seater air taxi prototype after a suc...
by dTal on Thursday May 16, 2019 @08:33AM
(#19928315)
A propellor turns shaft torque into air momentum. You need some kind of motor to drive it.
A ducted fan also does this, though its aerodynamics are a bit different. Like a propellor, there is little compression.
A 'turbine' turns flow into torque.
A traditional jet engine turns fuel into torque with a compressor and a turbine. Confusingly it's sometimes called a 'gas turbine'. It also incidentally moves air, but not very efficiently.
A turboprop drives a propellor with a 'gas turbine'.
A modern 'high bypass' jet engine (or "turbofan") drives a ducted fan with a 'gas turbine'.
An 'electric jet' drives a ducted fan with an electric motor. No turbine is involved.
A ducted fan also does this, though its aerodynamics are a bit different. Like a propellor, there is little compression.
A 'turbine' turns flow into torque.
A traditional jet engine turns fuel into torque with a compressor and a turbine. Confusingly it's sometimes called a 'gas turbine'. It also incidentally moves air, but not very efficiently.
A turboprop drives a propellor with a 'gas turbine'.
A modern 'high bypass' jet engine (or "turbofan") drives a ducted fan with a 'gas turbine'.
An 'electric jet' drives a ducted fan with an electric motor. No turbine is involved.