Gas turbines are an essential element of many energy systems, but they also undergo a lot of stress while performing their main function. This stress can result in premature degradation when these turbines don’t have the proper protective treatment.
If you are at all familiar with thermal barrier coatings, then you know they provide incredible control of thermal energy transfer, which is essential to keeping the working components of a gas turbine intact. However, have you ever wondered how the use of these coatings affects the lifespan of a turbine? Read on to learn that answer and more.
What Causes Gas Turbines to Breakdown?
Before we discuss the manner in which thermal barrier coatings can benefit a gas turbine and potentially extend its lifespan, let’s discuss what causes gas turbines to break down in the first place. Turbines consist of several complex components, all of which face significant stress while in operation, which often leads to malfunction.
Primarily, the combustion that occurs in a gas turbine leads to extremely high temperatures and a considerable amount of thermal stress on the turbine’s main features. This thermal stress results in wear and tear and a long list of potential malfunctions.
To combat extreme thermal stress, gas turbines require a cooling system that manages heat levels to avoid wearing and malfunctioning. However, in many instances, these cooling systems are not enough to prevent damage and other complications. Fortunately, as the next section will show, thermal barrier coatings can help reduce the negative effects of thermal stress.
How Thermal Barrier Coatings Extend Gas Turbine Lifespan
One of the key functions of a thermal barrier coating is to reduce the transfer of thermal energy. This capability is the reason why applying a thermal barrier coating is such an effective way to insulate buildings. However, the use of thermal barrier coatings for heat transfer reduction goes far beyond building insulation.
To understand this process, it’s crucial to have a fundamental knowledge of a thermal barrier coating’s anatomy. A typical thermal barrier coating consists of at least two layers. The first layer is the metallic bond coat, which is responsible for adhering the coating to a material’s surface. The second layer is known as the ceramic topcoat.
The ceramic topcoat is responsible for delivering all the benefits that thermal barrier coatings boast. These benefits include corrosion resistance, general protection from harsh environmental factors, and, above all, a fantastic ability to reduce thermal energy transfer.
As such, thermal barrier coatings prove to be the perfect way to mitigate the extreme temperatures within a gas turbine. By managing heat transfer, thermal barrier coating protects the components of a turbine, allowing them to function with greater ease and achieve a significantly longer lifespan with fewer needs for repairs.
Similar Applications for Thermal Barrier Coatings
By discovering the advantages of using thermal barrier coatings for gas turbines, you likely recognize that these coatings can have useful applications across many other industries. After all, a reduction in corrosion and control over thermal energy transfer are two advantages with the potential to serve many products and processes. Below are a few of the most prominent examples:
- Manufacturing
- Aerospace engineering
- Marine applications
- Residential and commercial building insulation
- Shipping
- Transportation
- Cold storage
- Greenhouses
- HVAC and ductwork
Given this broad applicability, it’s likely that you can find a use for a thermal barrier coating regardless of your line of work. After choosing to apply one of these coatings, you’ll likely experience an increase in material lifespan, reduced corrosion and decay, and an increase in the overall energy efficiency of your operations.
What Materials Can You Apply a Thermal Barrier Coating To?
Part of the reason why thermal barrier coatings are so broadly applicable to many industries is that you can apply them to many different material types. For example, it is beneficial to use a thermal barrier coating on all of the following materials:
- Asphalt
- Concrete
- Glass
- Masonry
- Metal
- Plastic
- Sheetrock
- Wood
Without protection, all of these materials will degrade when exposed to temperature shifts and the forces of nature. The good news is that thermal barrier coatings can drastically increase the lifespans of these materials thanks to the protection they provide.
Find the Right Thermal Barrier Coating for You at ThermaCote
Whether you manage and operate gas turbines or work in any of the other industries we mentioned in this article, you can benefit from the application of a thermal barrier coating. However, it’s important to take time to select the best thermal barrier coating product for you.
At ThermaCote, we offer industry-leading thermal barrier coating products that offer all the benefits we mentioned above, among others. If you want to learn more about how ThermaCote can serve you and your industry, reach out to us today.