Gas Turbine Compressor Operating Environment and Material Evaluation

Abstract

The reliability and performance of a gas turbine compressor is strongly dependent upon the environment in which it operates, the materials which are used, and the filtration system. Erosion and to a certain extent fouling can be controlled by the filtration system, but corrosion is largely controlled through site and material selection. The factors which determine the corrosivity of a site are humidity, the concentration of acid-forming gases, and the composition of particulates. The interrelationships of these factors are discussed with an aim of reducing their impact on compressor operation. A necessary condition for corrosion is the presence of moisture. The acidity of the moisture results from its interaction with the gases and particulates of the environment. The details of these interactions which are important to turbine operators are discussed. A considerable amount of corrosion testing of base materials and coatings has been performed and this is reviewed. A table is presented for selection of compressor materials based on the nature of the site environment and the type of compressor filtration.