A Method for Assessing Reactions of Water Vapor with Materials in High-Speed, High-Temperature Flow

A simple method is described for measuring material erosion by reaction with water vapor under high-speed flow conditions, with H2O partial pressures, velocities, temperatures, and erosion rates representative of those experienced in gas turbine engines. A water vapor jet is formed by the feeding water at a controlled rate into a capillary inside a tube furnace, where the large expansion of vaporization within the confines of the capillary accelerates the jet. With modest flow rates of liquid water, steam jets with temperatures up to similar to 1400 degrees C and velocities in the range 100-300 m/s have been achieved. The partial pressure of water vapor in the 100% steam jet is the same as in an industrial turbine operating at 10 atm total pressure with 10% water vapor. In preliminary experiments with SiC, erosion rates of the order of 1 mu m/h have been observed.