About this lesson
The Brayton cycle is the gas turbine cycle: air is compressed, heated by burning fuel at constant pressure, expanded through a turbine and exhausted.
How it works
- Compressor: air is compressed to a high pressure.
- Combustor: fuel is burned in the compressed air at roughly constant pressure, raising its temperature.
- Turbine: the hot gas expands, driving the compressor and the generator.
- Exhaust: the gas leaves at high temperature. In a combined cycle this heat is recovered.