Effects of Turbine Design on Particulate Erosion of Turbine Airfoils

Abstract

An analytic study was conducted to determine the effects of turbine design, airfoil shape and material on particulate erosion of turbine airfoils in coal-fueled, direct-fired gas turbines used for electric power generation. First-stage, mean-line airfoil sections were designed for 80 MW output turbines with 3 and 4 stages. Two-dimensional particle trajectory calculations and erosion rate analyses were performed for a range of particle diameters and densities and for ductile and ceramic airfoil materials. Results indicate that the surface erosion rates can vary by a factor of 5 and that erosion on rotating blades is not well correlated with particle diameter. The results quantify the cause/effect turbine design relationships expected and assist in the selection of turbine design characteristics for use downstream of a coal-fueled combustion process.</jats:p