Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Water droplet erosion (WDE) is caused by high-speed collision between water droplets and solid surfaces. This phenomenon is encountered in gas turbines, steam turbines, helicopters and jet engines. While in gas turbines, it happens due to injecting water droplets to cool the air in the compressor to increase the power output, in steam turbines, it occurs due to condensation of steam. Besides, WDE takes place when helicopters and aircrafts fly through rain. In all cases, repeated impacts of water droplets cause significant erosion along the leading edges of the airfoils resulting in performance degradation and aerodynamic instability. This research program comprises three main axes with interconnected objectives. In Axis 1, the focus is on enhancing the understanding of WDE mechanisms using advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques. The outcome will enable more accurate predictions of material degradation and help in developing erosion-resistant materials. Axis 2 is dedicated to improving turbine blade coatings for enhanced WDE resistance. By emphasizing strong bonding between coatings and substrates and evaluating coating performance, particularly at high impact speeds, the research aims to reduce maintenance costs and environmental impact associated with component replacement. In Axis 3, the objective is to bridge the gap between accelerated WDE tests and in-service blade lifetime. The research seeks to establish correlations between accelerated test results and real-life erosion damage, which will lead to more precise testing routines and efficient maintenance practices, reducing energy losses and blade failures in various industries. This research program is promising a paradigm shift in combating the long-standing challenge of water droplet erosion that has persistently plagued various industries for decades. This work will lead to the development of advanced technologies and provide substantial economical benefits to the power generation and aerospace industries which are very important sectors of both Quebec and Canadian economies. It is poised to revolutionize not only our comprehension of WDE but also to reshape how industries approach this persistent challenge. It will reduce maintenance costs and environmental impact associated with WDE. It should also be emphasized that the program will produce graduates trained in challenging technologies and contribute to Canada a pool of advanced capabilities and associated human resources in materials engineering and surface treatment. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of this project, the trained students will develop necessary skills to work in various industries such as power generation including wind energy, aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas industries. Also, it should be noted that this project is a response to a global need and is part of a larger effort by many R&D groups in both academia and industry to find solutions to the water droplet erosion problem.