High Temperature Erosion Study of Metals Used in Turbomachinery

Abstract

Gas turbine engines operating in dusty environments are exposed to severe erosion, especially the compressor and the turbine components. Predicting erosion in rotating machinery is a very complex problem. In order to provide the basis for alloy selection in future turbines using pulverized coal, an investigation is undertaken to obtain a basic understanding of the mechanisms of erosion at high temperatures. For this purpose, a test facility has been designed to simulate the aerodynamic and thermodynamic conditions in the turbine. The effects of high temperature on the erosion rate for different alloys are experimentally determined and the results obtained are presented in this paper. The findings are very important in predicting erosion rate for future turbomachinery exposed to particulate flows.