Leading Edge: Turbine Blades, Chile

9th December 2024

Industry: Power
Location: Chile
Application: Leading Edge of Turbine Blades
Products: 101 Metal Repair Paste & 203 Super Flow

The Challenge

The leading edge of turbine blades in a power generation facility exhibited significant erosion, impacting their performance and longevity. Constant exposure to abrasive particles accelerated the wear, making a reliable repair solution essential. The client required a method to restore the damaged areas while providing durable protection to extend the blades’ operational lifespan and maintain turbine efficiency.

The Solution

To prepare the turbine blades for repair, the surface was abrasive blast cleaned to SA2.5, meeting the ISO 8501/4 and SSPC SP10/NACE 2 standards with a 75-micron angular profile. This preparation ensured a clean and textured surface for the repair products. Damaged areas along the leading edge were filled and reshaped using 101 Metal Repair Paste to restore the blade’s original contour.

For long term protection, two coats of 203 Super Flow were applied by brush, resulting in a nominal total dry film thickness of 500 microns. This final coating created a smooth, wear resistant surface, designed to withstand the operational stresses and corrosive conditions.

Results & Benefits

Improve structural integrity of the turbine blades
Enhance the blades’ resistance to operational stress including high speed impact from particulate matter
Aerodynamic performance of the leading edge improved, reducing energy loss & enhancing overall turbine efficiency
Erosion resistant barrier, operational stability, minimising vibration and wear on components
Cost effective solution avoiding a full blade replacement
Reduced downtime ensuring uninterrupted power generation