AFTERBURN Meaning and
Definition
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Afterburn refers to the combustion process that takes place in a jet engine's exhaust system after the fuel has been ignited. It is a secondary combustion phase where additional fuel is injected into the exhausted air stream to increase the thrust generated by the engine. During afterburn, the extra fuel is ignited in the tailpipe of the engine, resulting in a strong and visible flame and an increase in the temperature and velocity of the exhaust gases.
The purpose of afterburn is to generate additional thrust, particularly during takeoff or high-speed maneuvers such as supersonic flight. By injecting extra fuel and igniting it in the exhaust, the afterburner dramatically increases the velocity of the exhausted air. This increase in velocity leads to a greater pressure difference between the front and rear ends of the engine, resulting in an increased thrust and acceleration of the aircraft.
Afterburn is typically activated only when the engine requires a short-term boost in thrust, as it is an inefficient and fuel-consuming process. The amount of extra thrust produced by afterburn can vary depending on the specific engine and its design, but it generally provides a significant power increase. However, this comes at the cost of increased fuel consumption and reduced engine efficiency, limiting its usage to specific flight phases or combat situations where extra power is essential.
In summary, afterburn is the process of igniting additional fuel in a jet engine's exhaust system to produce a dramatic increase in thrust, enhancing an aircraft's performance during critical flight situations.
Etymology of AFTERBURN
The word "afterburn" is a compound of the words "after" and "burn".
The word "after" comes from the Old English word "æfter", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*aftar". It originally meant "behind" or "later in time". This word has remained relatively unchanged throughout the centuries and is still used in English to denote something that occurs following or in response to something else.
The word "burn" also has ancient roots. It stems from the Old English verb "byrnan" and is related to the Old High German word "brinnan", both of which mean "to burn" or "be on fire". These words can be traced back even further to the Proto-Germanic word "*brinnan" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*gwher-", meaning "to heat" or "to burn".
