Steam Oxidation Testing of Coatings for Next Generation Steam Power Plant Components

Abstract

To achieve higher power generation efficiency in steam turbines, operating temperatures are expected to rise from 550°C to 650°C. The use of oxidation resistant coatings on currently available materials, with high creep strength but inferior steam oxidation resistance, is being explored in order to accomplish this goal in the context of the European project “Coatings for Supercritical Steam Cycles” (SUPERCOAT). Coating techniques have been chosen on the basis of being potentially appropriate for coating steam turbine components: the application of metallic and ceramic slurries, pack cementation and the deposition of alloyed and cermet materials by thermal spray. The coatings were characterised by metallography, SEM-EDS and XRD and steam oxidation and thermal cycling laboratory testing was carried out at 650º C. In this presentation, the testing results of selected coatings will be shown including those which exhibit the most promising behaviour. For instance, slurry aluminides have been exposed to steam at 650°C for more than 38,000 h (test ongoing) without evidence of substrate attack. Some HVOF coatings such as FeAl, NiCr and FeCr also have shown excellent behaviour. The results have provided information regarding the mechanism of protection and degradation of these coatings as well as insight into new coating development.