CO₂ reduction, saving of primary energy resources and lower operating costs are the driving force for higher efficiency of aero turbines and power plant. The efficiency of a power plant reaches around 60 % when a gas turbine is combined with a steam turbine. In Switzerland, an initiative is started by BFE to develop an environmentally friendly combined cycle power plant (“Kraftwerk 2020”).
The thermal efficiency of combustion engines can be improved by increasing the temperature gradient of the cyclic process, i.e. particularly by raising the inlet temperature. This requires materials which can withstand the very high thermal, mechanical and corrosive loads.
The presentation will give an overview of the state-of-the-art of advanced blade materials for aero engines and gas turbines for power generation. Today, the blading in the front stages consists of single crystalline or columnar-grained materials manufactured by directional solidification. The lecture will address the technical justification for these highly sophisticated components as well as production aspects. Additionally, experience with an alloy development will be introduced.

Vortragssprache: Englisch