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The seal system of a gas turbine has a significant influence on its overall efficiency. In the scope of a European research project, Sulzer Metco has developed a new sealing material for the hot high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage.
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New sealing materials developed by Sulzer Metco increase gas-turbine efficiency
With increasing fuel prices and significant pressure to reduce emissions, the efficient use of fuels in gas turbines is gaining ever more attention. Abradable seals in gas turbine compressors have contributed to improved efficiencies for quite some time now. To further enhance efficiency, current efforts focus on the seals in one of the hottest sections of the engine, the first turbine stage. Sulzer Metco and GE have designed and tested a new high-pressure turbine abradable seal system in the framework of a European consortium project led by GE Oil&Gas. In the scope of this project, Sulzer Metco had developed a novel ceramic coating for application by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). An engine test verified performance and economic advantages of the new seal system. The measured improvements in engine performance exceed the expected gains as predicted by model calculations.
Sulzer Technical Review, Issue 02/2008
Author(s): Dieter Sporer, Arno Refke, Marian Dratwinski, Mitch Dorfman, Iacopo Giovannetti, Massimo Giannozzi, Manuele Bigi
Division: Sulzer Metco
 Full article as PDF file (pdf.gif, 0.17 MB)
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