An empirical approach to predict droplet impact erosion in low-pressure stages of steam turbines

At the Institute of Thermal Turbomachinery and Machinery Laboratory (ITSM) Stuttgart, the droplet impact erosion phenomenon has been simulated with the help of an erosion test rig. The experiments confirm that the erosion resistance of steam turbine blade materials can be associated with different mechanical properties of materials. Different combinations of material properties, like hardness, yield strength, Young's modulus and resilience, are analysed and their role in the formation of material erosion resistance is investigated. These material properties are, later on, used to predict the erosion behaviour of blade materials in a given erosive environment. In the end, an empirical erosion prediction model is presented and described. With the help of this erosion model, the rig-specific erosion resistance of a candidate blade material can be predicted if its material properties are known. •Droplet impact erosion has been simulated with the help of an erosion test rig.•Different combinations of material properties are investigated.•Erosion resistance of steam turbine blade materials has been predicted.•An empirical erosion prediction model is presented and described.