A combustion turbine similar in principle to a jet engine: it burns gaseous or liquid fuel to make hot expanding gases that spin the turbine blades directly, with no boiler or steam loop in between. Quick to start and compact, simple-cycle gas turbines serve peak demand, and paired with a steam turbine in a combined-cycle plant their exhaust heat is used a second time.
Facts
Disputed
Invented YearJohn Barber patented the first complete gas turbine design in 1791; the first turbine producing net power was built by Aegidius Elling in 1903. Classification
MaturityTRL 9: Actual System Proven in Operational Environment 1 Technology Type Connections
Associated With
Source United States Energy Information Administration Official Site
Uses Source
Source United States Energy Information Administration Official Site
Sources
1. Gas-turbine engine - Wikipedia
Technology maturity, Wikipedia introduction extract fetched 2026-09-25Quote, Technology maturity, Wikipedia introduction extract fetched 2026-09-25
In industrial and marine service, gas turbines are commonly used as shaft-power engines to drive generators, compressors, pumps, or propellers.
2. United States Energy Information Administration Official Site
US Energy Information AdministrationElectricity explained, How electricity is generated, Combustion gas turbines
Combustion gas turbines, which are similar to jet engines, burn gaseous or liquid fuels to produce hot gases to turn the blades in the turbine.
Associated With: Combined Cycle Gas Turbine, Electricity explained, How electricity is generated, Combined-cycle systems
Combined-cycle systems use combustion gases from one turbine to generate more electricity in another turbine.
View the Source 3. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationHistoryQuote, History
A patent was granted to John Barber, an Englishman, for the first complete gas-turbine design.
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