What keeps a jetliners engine from stalling out when it passes through a cloud?

Question

wouldnt the water vapor extinguish the fire that keeps the engine going?

Answer 1

All aircraft engines have to pass a series of certification tests prior to flight. One of these tests involves water ingestion. The engine is set to run at flight idle and a really huge amount of water is sprayed into the inlet, simulating the worst case scenario of flying through a storm. With the throttle at idle, the engine cannot flame out and it must be able to sustain an acceleration when the throttle is advanced.

Most of the water is centrifuged outward by the fan, so it does not enter the core engine where the combustion takes place. However, if the engine does not pass the test, it does not fly until changes are incorporated to allow it to pass.

Answer 2

A little moisture makes the engines run better.  Newer high bypass turbofans bypass most of the moisture entering the engine. If enough moisture exists to possibly flameout an engine continuous ignition is selected to prevent the engine from stopping.

It was more of a problem on pure jet engines.

Answer 3

There is not enough water in a cloud to flameout a jet engine. I have known of some turbine engines failing on the ground in VERY heavy rain, but were soon re-started.

Answer 4

You've driven your car through fog.  Did the engine stall?

Answer 5

Well, I only have time for a short answer but perhaps the best way to think about it is this:

A cloud is basically just fog that is higher off the ground.

Any engine that I know of (including all of our cars!) can run in the fog!

Answer 6

Nah not at all.  It just condenses and passes out the back.  That's the vapor trail you see in the sky; water particles being condensed by the compressor and then shot out the back.  They're called contrails or condensation trails.

Answer 7

A cloud is not really "wet" enough to put out a fire.  No danger at all.  Very heavy rain can cause an engine shut down, but it is a very rare occurrence.

Contrails have nothing to do with clouds, and rather occur in clear air.  A contrail is a stream of ice crystals resulting from hot water vapor contacting very cold air.

Answer 8

Kilkenny, your question has been well answered by the others above me. However I would like to ask and I hope you dont mind,

Who is the frustrated pilot wannabe giving ' Thumbs down ' to perfectly good answers? please feel free to respond.

Answer 9

The fire is internal.  The ignition of the jet fuel drives the turbines and that creates the thrust.