Can a turbine engine run without fuel?

Question

Can a turibine engine just ignite the compressed air with a spark of electricity, or does fuel need to be added first. If it does need to be added first, is their any alternative, like some sort of gas that can be ignited too?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

No engine can be run without fuel of some sort...you don't get nuthin' for nuthin"!

Answer 3

No they need combustion and the combusted material would be the fuel no matter what it was. Unless you are using a hydro generator turbine where the water pressure is the fuel or a wind turbine where the wind is your fuel then they don't combust the fuel.

Answer 4

I have seen a turbine running on a fine stream of flour. Generally anything that can be burned quickly can be a fuel. certainly any fuel used in a furnace or engine has been used successfully.

Electricity could be used, but it would not be as economical as would be an electric motor.

Answer 5

honestly, the point of a turbine is that it is an alternative to fossil fuels. the way it works is by an element (wind, water etc) being used naturally to turn a fan-like-contraption in the turbine which creates energy that is converted into electricity.

Answer 6

how do you make compressed air?  burning fuel...and air doesnt burn..it must have some type of fuel

Answer 7

yes a turbine needs some sort of fuel first.  But most turbines now days are using natural energy to power it like wind, water, etc.  Ethanol and diesel are pretty good alternatives to gasoline it's just that not a lot of money is being invested towards that direction