What are the four phases of the Brayton cycle?

The Brayton cycle, which is the thermodynamic cycle primarily utilized in gas turbine engines, is characterized by four key phases: intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust.

In the intake phase, ambient air is drawn into the engine. Following this, during the compression phase, the air is compressed by a series of compressor blades, which significantly increases its pressure and temperature. The next phase is combustion, where the compressed air is mixed with fuel and ignited, resulting in a rapid expansion of gases that generates high-pressure energy. Finally, in the exhaust phase, the spent gases are expelled from the engine, which not only completes the cycle but also often drives the turbine to facilitate the compression and intake phases.

This structured sequence of operations is vital for the efficient functioning of gas turbine engines, making the identified components of the Brayton cycle essential knowledge for understanding their design and operation.