Energy-efficient gas-turbine blade-material technology - a review

Abstract

Energy-efficient gas turbines (GTs) with reduced emissions have significantly contributed to sustainable development. However, these advanced engines, operating at turbine inlet temperatures (TITs) as high as 1.600 °C, require the development of highly creep-resistant materials for application in hotter-section components of GTs. This paper first reviews recent advancements in the development of creep-resistant superalloys and their microstructural control, including stable gamma-prime raft structures. Then a comparative analysis of recently developed SC superalloys is presented to enable GT designers to select appropriate materials for hotter energy-efficient GT engines. It is recommended to develop new creep-limited alloys based on the metals with higher melting temperatures (e.g., Mo and Nb alloyed with silicon); these future alloys are proposed as prospective candidates for hotter energy-efficient GTs.