NETL develops simulation to study how corrosion occurs on gas turbines' barrier coatings

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) researchers are reporting a breakthrough in efforts to extend the life and improve the efficiency of energy-producing gas turbines by refining a process that can simulate how corrosion-causing thermally grown oxide (TGO) develops and causes cracking in the environmental barrier coatings (EBCs), notes a press communique from the organization. This development is crucial for protecting next-generation turbine blades from thermal cycling damage.

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The researchers reported their success in a paper published in the journal Acta Materials, titled “Phase-Field Modeling of Thermally Grown Oxide and Damage Evolution in Environmental Barrier Coatings.”

A gas turbine is a combustion engine at the heart of many power plants that can convert natural gas or other liquid fuels to mechanical energy. This energy then drives a generator that produces the electrical energy that moves along power lines to homes and businesses.

Gas turbines also power aircraft, trains, ships, pumps, gas compressors and tanks.

NETL researchers Tianle Cheng, Fei Xue, Yinkai Lei, Richard Oleksak, Ömer Doğan and Youhai Wen, who all are based at the laboratory's Albany, Oregon, site, authored the paper.