Engine in which steam, water, gas, or air (see
windmill) is made to spin a rotating shaft by pushing on angled blades, like a fan. There are two sets of blades, the stator (does not rotate) and the rotor (does rotate). The rotating turbine shaft can be connected to an electricity generator. Turbines are among the most powerful machines.
Steam turbines are used to drive generators in power stations and ships' propellers; water turbines spin the generators in hydroelectric power plants; and gas turbines (as jet engines; see
jet propulsion) power most aircraft and drive machines in industry.
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