Protective coatings : a prerequisite for improved efficiency

The efficiency of combined cycle power plants can be further improved by raising the gas inlet temperature of the gas turbine. This requires intense cooling of the blades in the first turbine rows in addition to fabricating them from high-temperature alloys cast as a single crystal. Thermal barrier coatings offer additional protection against the effects of the hot gases. Targeted refinement of these coatings is therefore of particular significance for service life and improved efficiency.