The BasicsA jet engine can be divided into several distinct sections: intake, compressor, diffuser, combustion chamber, turbine, and exhaust. These sections are very similar to the different cycles of a four-stroke reciprocating engine: intake, compression, power and exhaust. In a four-stroke engine, a fuel/air mixture is introduced into the engine (intake), compressed (compression), then ignited and expelled through the exhaust (power and exhaust). At its most basic, a jet engine works in much the same way.* Air comes to the front of the engine where it enters the compressor. Air is compressed by a series of small rotating blades, aptly named compressor blades, and exits at high pressure. The pressure ratio between the start and end of the compressor can be as high as 48:1, but almost always 12:1 or more.* The air now enters the diffuser, which is nothing more than an area where the The air can expand and lower its speed, thereby increasing its pressure a little more.* The high pressure air at the end of the diffuser now enters the combustion chamber where it is mixed with the fuel, ignited and burned.* As the fuel/air mixture burns, the temperature increases (obviously), which causes the air to expand.* This expanding gas drives a set of turbine blades located at the rear of the combustion chamber. At least some of these turbine blades are connected by a shaft to the compressor blades to drive them. Depending on the type of engine, there may be another set of turbine blades used to drive another shaft to do other things, like turn a propeller or generator.* The remaining energy not extracted by the blades turbine is pushed towards the rear of the engine. the engine (exhaust section) and creates thrust, typically used to move an aircraft forward. Types of jet engines include:* Turbojet* Turbofan* Turboprop* TurboshaftTurbojetThe turbojet is the simplest of all, it is exactly as described in the "Basics" section. This style was the first type of jet engine to be used in aircraft It is a fairly primitive style used mainly in early military jet fighters such as the F..-86.