What is the difference between turbine and piston engines in helicopters?

Question

What are some of the main differences....(fuel, speed, manuverability, advantages to one compared to the other)

Answer 1

Here the no B.S. answer. Turbine engines in helicopters maintain a constant torque all the time so the engines usually run at 100%. Remember torque is very important to rotorcraft as it is turning blades. If the torque is maintained when the pitch is changed it is smooth and the engine will not spool down unlike a piston engine. This is accomplished with a transmission that sits on top of the helicopter both turbine and piston are about the same here. It’s the reduction system that lower the engine RMP to the constant RPM the rotor disk requires in all phases from take off to forward speed it turns the same RMP. What keeps it turning the same RMP is torque from the engine. Turbines happen to be better at this than piston engines. With piston you have to increase engine RPM before making a pitch change to increase lift as the engines will drag down.

Turbine put out more power per weight than internal combustion (piston engines).

Piston engines have a faster RPM spool uptime, but can’t maintain the constant torque unless the pilot is very very good with both hands and feet. Piston engines are modified with different oil systems and tend to run hotter than normal. Turbine engine last longer than piston engine on helicopters.

The big difference is in fuel burn. That is why most helicopters use piston two-seat trainer to train pilots. As pilot become more efficient they can move up to turbines.

All helicopters are restricted by forward speed do to the main rotor disk. The laws of physics prevent helicopter from flying faster than about 300 knots. Unlike what you may see on TV with after burners, that’s a bunch of bull.

Maneuverability depends on the helicopter weight and rotor head being rigid or semi-rigid not to get to technical. A rigid head and lightweight helicopter will do amazing things.

Answer 2

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RE:
What is the difference between turbine and piston engines in helicopters?
What are some of the main differences....(fuel, speed, manuverability, advantages to one compared to the other)

Answer 3

Gas turbine refers to the method of extracting the energy from the engine by using a turbine, as opposed to letting the gas move a piston, (piston engine).

Answer 4

I'm afraid that stacheair has his explanation about torque all wrong. Turbine engined powered helicopters do not maintain a constant torque. Varying the torque is the only way that any helicopter, piston or turbine, has of maintaining a constant rotor rpm. That is precisely why turbo prop airplanes and turboshaft helicopters have a torque meter. Because it is probably the most important indicator of power there is in a turboshaft engine. Over torquing the transmission on a helicopter is one of the limitations to how much pitch you can pull on the collective at any one time. Also, pull enough torque and you will not have enough left pedal to counter the excessive torque.

The main advantage of a turboshaft over a piston engine however is the amount of power, or torque, you can get for an equal amount of weight. Also the fuel controllers on turboshaft engines mean that rpm is maintained constant regardless of collective positioning. Pull pitch in a turbine helicopter and you need do nothing with the throttle. Pull the same amount of pitch in a piston helicopter and you must roll on throttle to maintain revs.

Nine years as an army helicopter pilot.

Answer 5

1. Turbine engines spin much faster and are a lot more powerful for their size.
2. Piston engines cost way less than turbine engines.
3. Turbine engines guzzle fuel faster than piston engines.
4. Generally, you can fly faster with a turbine engine.
5. Turbine engines do not vibrate, while piston engines do.
6. Turbine engines are more sensitive to dirt, sand, dust, and other stuff because they suck everything up.

Answer 6

the difference is the piston engine( usually a lycoming)
has spark plugs ang is very noisy. this engine is used on
the hughes 300, robinson helicopters, and early bell
helicopter, the turbine is used on heavy lift birds like the
ch-47 chinook, sikorski ch53 sea stallion and numerous smaller utility type birds. turbines are quiet and powerful.

Answer 7

turbine engines run on kerosene like jet engines they spin at high RPM'S and require lots of reduction gearing . Piston engine helicoptor uses gasoline and turn lot's slower. Advandage gasoline engine in light weight helo's anything bigger than a trainer I bet you see turbines. Dissadvandage in turbines flying low and landing on unpaved areas dirt wears out the motor. Turning and manuverability about the same

Answer 8

You all forgot the most important thing MONEY. The piston engine cost a lot less

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Turbine is more heavy than piston..hahaha..
turbin has high speed than piston