Gas turbine reliability is a crucial requirement for passenger safety in aviation and a secure energy supply. Hence, corrosive degradation of combustor parts, vanes, and blades in gas turbines must be prevented. One of the most severe forms of corrosion is alkali‐sulfate‐induced hot corrosion, which is associated with internal sulfidation of components and is usually anticipated to fade in importance in the absence of sulfur. However, the literature suggests that hot corrosion might still occur in low‐sulfur combustion gases. In this study, established thermodynamic modeling methods are used to analyze the low‐sulfur hot corrosion regime. Liquid sodium chromate is found to be stable in these conditions. A comparison of calculation results and engine findings suggests that high alkali levels can negatively impact thermal barrier coating life even if sulfur is absent in the fuel. Laboratory tests are carried out to validate the chromate formation on MCrAlY‐coated specimens. It is shown that molten sodium chromate can alter the oxidation behavior of MCrAlY, promoting the formation of voluminous spinel. This represents a new and different form of hot corrosion compared to type I hot corrosion.

For the reliable operation of modern gas turbines, Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) need to withstand a wide range of ambient conditions resulting from impurities in inlet air or fuels. A novel deposition model has been developed that enables the prediction of deposition and transport of gaseous species originating from impurities in the gas turbine working media. The successful alignment of conditions in real engines with model results will allow to address the increasing demand for more fuel- and operational flexibility of current and future gas turbines. When analyzing deposition of detrimental hot gas constituents, previous efforts largely focus on the investigation of solid and molten deposit interaction with TBCs. Recent literature and observations in gas turbines indicate that not only liquids can penetrate porous TBCs, but the deposition from gas phase inside of pores and cracks is also an aspect of TBC degradation. To investigate this vapor deposition process, a diffusion model has been coupled with a thermodynamic equilibrium solver. The diffusion model calculates vapor transport of trace elements through pores and gaps in the TBC, where the thermodynamic equilibrium solver calculates local thermodynamic equilibria to predict whether deposition takes place. The model can calculate deposition rates within TBCs by taking into account the chemical composition of impurities in the hot gas as well as pressure, temperature profile in the TBC, and the TBC’s pore structure. Utilizing the model, a wide range of different fuel chemistries can be analyzed to draw conclusions regarding possible effects on TBC lifetime. In this work the model is applied to discuss deposition properties of calcium. In recent literature calcium has — in some cases — been reported to deposit inside of TBCs as pure anhydrite (CaSO4). An actual anhydrite finding in the TBC of a stationary gas turbine blade was reproduced applying the introduced model. The vapor deposition is shown to occur within and on top of the TBC, depending on a number of factors, such as: pressure, temperatures, calcium to silicon ratio and calcium to sulfur ratio.

For the reliable operation of modern gas turbines, Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) need to withstand a wide range of ambient conditions resulting from impurities in inlet air or fuels. When analyzing deposition of detrimental hot gas constituents, previous efforts largely focus on the investigation of solid and molten deposit interaction with TBCs. Recent literature and observations in gas turbines indicate that not only liquids can penetrate porous TBCs, but the deposition from gas phase inside of pores and cracks is also an aspect of TBC degradation. To investigate this vapor deposition process, a diffusion model has been coupled with a thermodynamic equilibrium solver. The diffusion model calculates vapor transport of trace elements through pores and gaps in the TBC, where the thermodynamic equilibrium solver calculates local thermodynamic equilibria to predict whether deposition takes place. In this work the model is applied to discuss deposition properties of calcium. In recent literature calcium has – in some cases – been reported to deposit inside of TBCs as pure anhydrite (CaSO4). An actual anhydrite finding in the TBC of a stationary gas turbine blade was reproduced applying the introduced model. The vapor deposition is shown to occur within and on top of the TBC, depending on a number of factors, such as: pressure, temperatures, calcium to silicon ratio and calcium to sulfur ratio. The successful alignment of conditions in real engines with model results will allow to address the increasing demand for more fuel- and operational flexibility of current and future gas turbines.

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