How many stages does the high-pressure turbine have?

The high-pressure turbine in a gas turbine engine typically consists of two stages. This design allows the turbine to effectively extract energy from the high-temperature, high-pressure gases produced during combustion.

The first stage, or the initial stage, is responsible for converting the thermal energy of the gas into mechanical energy, which begins the process of turning the turbine rotor. The second stage further extracts additional energy from the gases that have already lost some pressure and temperature, which enhances overall efficiency and performance.

Having two stages is beneficial in managing the thermal dynamics of the engine and improving its ability to produce work while maintaining structural integrity. This configuration balances performance and efficiency, which is critical in gas turbine applications. A system with only one stage would struggle to maximize energy extraction from the exhaust gases, while three or four stages would generally be found in more complex engine designs, which are beyond the scope of typical high-pressure turbine configurations.