In a turbofan engine, which component is responsible for compressing air?

The compressor in a turbofan engine is responsible for compressing air. Its primary function is to take in the large volume of air that the fan moves and increase its pressure before it enters the combustion chamber. This increase in pressure is crucial for the efficient operation of the engine as it allows for more complete combustion of the fuel, leading to greater thrust and improved performance.

In a typical turbofan engine, the compressor consists of multiple stages of rotating blades (rotors) and stationary blades (stators) that work together to sequentially compress the air. This progressive compression results in a significant rise in air temperature and pressure, which are essential for the engine's operation.

While the fan initially draws in ambient air, its primary role is not compression, but rather moving a large quantity of air to generate thrust, while the turbine extracts energy from the high-temperature exhaust gases to drive the compressor. The accessory gearbox serves ancillary functions like powering engine accessories but does not play a direct role in air compression.