What is the primary method by which turbine engines are cooled?

Turbine engines primarily utilize air passing through the engine for cooling purposes. As the engine operates, a significant amount of air flows over and through various engine components such as the turbines, combustor, and exhaust. This airflow helps to dissipate heat generated during the combustion process and the operation of moving parts.

The design of turbine engines often incorporates features that maximize airflow across critical components, ensuring efficient heat transfer and maintaining optimal operating temperatures. The cooling process is essential to maintaining performance and preventing damage to the engine from excessive heat.

While other methods like liquid coolant circulation and heat exchangers are effective in certain types of engines or systems, they are not the primary means of cooling in turbine engines. Radiative cooling is less effective in the context of turbine engines, as it relies on heat being radiated away without airflow, which would not provide sufficient cooling for such high-performance systems.