Southside Thermal Sciences (STS), a spin-out firm from Imperial College London, has developed new coatings that are capable of obstructing heat. The coating has been exclusively developed for components of gas turbine used for generating electricity. The coating can effectively respond to the ageing and temperature status even if the engine is operating at its maximum speed.
The thermal-obstructing coatings such as yttria-stabilised zirconia are applied on hot metal parts of gas turbines. They enable the parts to function at elevated temperatures, thereby accomplishing improved efficiency and performance.
Dr Joerg Feist, Managing Director of STS, stated that generally people do not know the precise temperature of the engine parts and the company’s technology can accomplish this easily. He added that higher temperature results in enhanced engine performance. However, temperature cannot be increased indefinitely.
STS created a new method of coating ceramic materials with phosphorescent molecules and applied the resultant coating using a plasma deposition method. When exposed to UV light, the coating emitted a distinctive signature according to its present corrosion status, temperature and other stages.
Feist added that the coating offers protection and also acts as a sensor by sensing its own condition. High-temperature-sensing sensors are already in use but implanting light-emitting materials into an existing coating offers sensing within the coating applied on the part. The temperature of the coating material can be viewed during both online and offline status. In addition, variations inside the material can be viewed when the material begins reforming during cycles and heat exposure
Recently, STS procured two Rolls-Royce Viper 201 engines to analyze its newly developed coatings. Feist stated that they altered the engine to include six windows. Two windows were made to face the ignition chamber; two windows were facing the nozzles that transfer hot air into turbines and the remaining two windows were facing the revolving turbine blades turbine. They also used a system to observe the environments.
A couple of weeks ago, temperature information from the coatings were successfully obtained by the company’s research team. The engine was made to run at 13,800rev/min. Recently, STS conducted a trial experiment on its Siemens V94.3 (A) 1 turbine for RWE npower at the Didcot B power station. The company is holding talks with aerospace developers and Formula One team for applying its technology in engine R&D applications.