Development of Sprayed Ceramic Seal System for Turbine Gas Path Sealing

Abstract

Analytical and experimental research was conducted to evaluate a ceramic seal system for a high-pressure turbine employing plasma-sprayed graded metallic ceramic, yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide (YSZ). The performance characteristics of several YSZ configurations were determined through rig testing for thermal shock resistance, abradability and erosion resistance. Results and test data acquired from this work indicate that this type of sealing system offers the potential to meet the operating requirements of future gas-turbine engines. However, continued development and refinement of this technology, particularly in the area of improving cyclic thermal stress tolerance, is necessary.