Elevated Temperature Exposure of Gas Turbine Materials to a Bio-Fuel Combustion Environment

The use of biomass fuels in gas turbine engines requires an examination of the effect of the fuel on the engine materials. While the fuel may be more environmentally friendly than conventional fuels, it has the potential to produce serious life limiting corrosion within gas turbine engines. The effects of the high alkali and low sulphur content of the fuel on its corrosive properties needs to be examined. To determine the extent and type of corrosion typical material systems were exposed to bio-fuel combustion products in a flame tunnel and furnace under conditions designed to promote high temperature corrosion. The preliminary results indicate that type I hot corrosion is certainly occurring with some signs of type II hot corrosion in certain material systems.