In a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Solar Turbines Incorporated is currently investigating the use of ceramics in industrial gas turbines by selectively replacing cooled metallic components with uncooled ceramic parts. As part of this program, Solar has developed CFCC (SiC/SiC) combustor liners and demonstrated their potential for low emissions in three field-engine tests for a total duration of over 3000 hours. The durability of the SiC/SiC liners appears to be primarily limited by surface recession, composite embrittlement and fiber degradation (particularly for CG-Nicalon). The microstructural, mechanical properties, and nondestructive evaluation of the CFCC liners after the three field tests are discussed in this paper.

Volume Subject Area:
Ceramics
Topics:
Engines, Gas turbines, Testing, Ceramics, Solar energy, Turbines, Combustion chambers, Composite materials, Durability, Embrittlement, Emissions, Fibers, Industrial gases, Mechanical properties, Nondestructive evaluation
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