National Energy Technology Laboratory presses forward on turbine enhancements

The U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is advancing combustion turbine technology as a way of supplementing fossil fuel reliance.

Their focus will offer versatility to energy technologies by allowing them to adapt to a variety of power systems. However, NETL hopes for this effort to be more than merely the efficiency they can provide, but also cuts to electricity costs, reduction of emissions, and creation of more affordable carbon capture.

To date, NETL has more than 30 projects underway in partnership with university and industry partners. Their turbine component improvement efforts include the development of ceramic matrix composite components to curb cooling requirements and increase efficiency. It will also aid the development of materials that will help optimize performance during extreme temperatures and changes in transition area designs they hope will reduce cooling air and leakage, cut nitrogen oxide emissions given off at higher temperatures, reduce the overall size of turbines, and limit aerodynamic losses.

The focus is specifically on components, rather than a wholesale redesign of the turbines themselves. This helps cut down on time involved in the project, and NETL said it makes for turbine research that applies to existing and future product lines alike. Their end goal is a rejuvenation of the coal industry, in line with the administration’s controversial plan to fund its bailout.