A gas turbine is a type of internal combustion engine that has an upstream
rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in
between. A compressor is one of the main components of the gas turbine. The main
role of the compressor is to compress air, which is used in the combustion process. A
compressor blade is a blade machined to a precise and exacting standard to be used
for application inside a turbine or compressor engine. The blades are the driving
force to move air to the compression unit. It rotates at high speed and adding energy
to the airflow. The blade and disc of the compressor work mostly in low
temperatures and are subjected to high rotational velocity, which causes large
centrifugal forces in discs and blades. During permanent work of the engine in the
corrosion and erosion environment, the first component that can suffer damaged is
the compressor blade
In gas turbine compressor, the environment is a most important factor in
determining the reliability and performance. The nature of the air entering the
compressor in terms of its humidity, trace gaseous species, and particulate determine
the fouling, corrosion, and erosion which occur on the blading. Compressor
corrosion results from moisture containing salts and acids collecting on the blading.
During operation, moisture can be present because of rain, use of evaporation
coolers, fogging systems, or condensation resulting from humid air being accelerated
at the compressor inlet.
The presence of corrosion pits on the compressor blades surfaces will reduce
the strength and the life time of the blades. In this respect, effects of corrosion pits on
structural strength and integrity of the compressor blades need to be established. In
addition, pitting is considered to be more dangerous than uniform corrosion damage
because it is more difficult to detect, predict and design against.
rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in
between. A compressor is one of the main components of the gas turbine. The main
role of the compressor is to compress air, which is used in the combustion process. A
compressor blade is a blade machined to a precise and exacting standard to be used
for application inside a turbine or compressor engine. The blades are the driving
force to move air to the compression unit. It rotates at high speed and adding energy
to the airflow. The blade and disc of the compressor work mostly in low
temperatures and are subjected to high rotational velocity, which causes large
centrifugal forces in discs and blades. During permanent work of the engine in the
corrosion and erosion environment, the first component that can suffer damaged is
the compressor blade
In gas turbine compressor, the environment is a most important factor in
determining the reliability and performance. The nature of the air entering the
compressor in terms of its humidity, trace gaseous species, and particulate determine
the fouling, corrosion, and erosion which occur on the blading. Compressor
corrosion results from moisture containing salts and acids collecting on the blading.
During operation, moisture can be present because of rain, use of evaporation
coolers, fogging systems, or condensation resulting from humid air being accelerated
at the compressor inlet.
The presence of corrosion pits on the compressor blades surfaces will reduce
the strength and the life time of the blades. In this respect, effects of corrosion pits on
structural strength and integrity of the compressor blades need to be established. In
addition, pitting is considered to be more dangerous than uniform corrosion damage
because it is more difficult to detect, predict and design against.
