Final answer:
Turbofan engines offer better fuel efficiency, reduced noise, and higher thrust compared to turbojets. These improvements, alongside advances in other aviation technologies, have made turbofans the preferred choice for commercial airliners.
Step-by-step explanation:
Advantages of Turbofan over Turbojet Engines
The turbofan engine is a type of jet engine that is widely used for commercial aviation, while the turbojet was one of the earliest types of jet engine developed. There are several advantages of a turbofan engine over a turbojet engine that have led to its predominance in the aviation industry.
- Better fuel efficiency - Turbofan engines are more efficient than turbojets at subsonic speeds, which is the range of speeds at which commercial airliners operate.
- Reduced noise - The fan in turbofan engines helps to reduce the noise created by the engine, making it more suitable for use near urban areas.
- Higher thrust for takeoffs - The design of turbofan engines provides greater thrust, which is especially beneficial during takeoff when more power is needed.
These advantages stem from the fact that a turbofan engine uses a large fan to bypass some air around the turbine, providing additional thrust without the need for more fuel. In comparison, a turbojet engine compresses and burns all the incoming air, which is less efficient and produces more noise.
The continual advancement in engineering, such as the development of reliable and powerful engines, use of new construction materials, and improvements in electronic instrumentation, has led to the wide-scale adoption of turbofan engines in modern airliners.