The counterclockwise flow of fluid leaving the turbine passes through the stator blades before reaching the impeller. The curvature of the stator blades reverses the direction of the fluid.

The change of direction allows the fluid to enter the impeller and join the fluid flowing along its blades. The first advantage of a stator is that engine torque is not wasted by having the impeller redirect the flow. A second advantage is that the fluid enters the impeller in a direction that applies a “helping push” along the impeller blades.