Gas Path Blade Tip Seals: Abradable Seal Material Testing at Utility Gas and Steam Turbine Operating Conditions

Abstract

Abradable seals have long been used to enhance turbomachinery performance by limiting blade tip leakage losses. Most of the literature regarding this subject has focused on aerospace gas turbine materials and conditions. Furthermore, testing and evaluation described in this literature has been conducted on disparate rigs, making direct comparison among the abradable materials investigated difficult. This study broadens the scope of available data by evaluating fibermetal, thermal-sprayed and honeycomb abradable materials at conditions found in utility gas turbine compressors and steam turbines. High speed rub interaction, low speed rub interaction and erosion data were collected and are discussed in detail.