Measurement of Erosion/Corrosion Damage to Gas Turbine Components
Measurement and prediction of damage to gas turbine aerofoils is of interest to both gas turbine plant operators and suppliers. Metrology methods have been developed to produce accurate and statistically significant measurements of the extent of metal damage after a period of plant operation and to give confidence in results obtained, especially from relatively short term tests. These methods of assessing materials/component performance are based on the use of contact metrology prior to exposure and optically guided measurement around precision prepared cross-sections after exposure. These methods can be used to make several hundred measurements of component dimensions after which the statistical analysis of the data can be carried out for assessment of materials performance. Such measurement methods can be applied to other components in power generating systems, eg heat exchangers.