Turbocompressor

(1) The main unit of a gas-turbine jet engine, consisting of a compressor and an aircraft gas turbine that are mechanically coupled. Turbocompressors are sometimes used for the supercharging of piston engines; in this case the engine exhaust gases expand in the turbine, and the turbine rotates the compressor, which increases the pressure of the air supplied to the cylinders.

(2) A dynamic-type (centrifugal or axial-flow) compressor used for the compression and injection of gases. Such a compressor is more efficient than a reciprocating compressor and eliminates pressure surges in the injected gas.