UES INC — Department of Energy STTR Phase II: 27 c

Description

Higher operating temperature for the gas turbine engine is needed for enhanced efficiency, lower emission and increased performance goal. The current state-of-the-art thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are not adequate to provide the needed protection for the metallic components of the turbine engine operating at higher TBC surface temperature ( & gt;1300C) with increased reliability. Thus there is a need to develop advanced TBC coatings having better thermal stability, long thermal cycle life, very low thermal conductivity, improved mechanical performance, good strain tolerance, and increased erosion resistance. For advanced TBC systems, we propose to develop innovative coating architectures having the capability to provide the required attributes, such as higher TBC surface temperature, high temperature phase stability, and lower thermal conductivity without sacrificing strain tolerance or reliability. The developed coating architectures will be evaluated in terms of microstructure, thermal conductivity, thermal cycle life time, and erosion resistance. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The TBC architectures developed in this program will be applicable to turbine engines utilized in electric power production, propelling aircraft, pumping fluids etc. Successful completion of the project will enable gas turbine engine to operate at elevated temperatures with higher efficiency (lower cost), lower emission (less environmental pollution) and increased reliability and performance contributing to advanced power plants such as Power Systems Development Facility, etc and aircraft propulsion.