Abstract
Thermal barrier coatings (TBC) are normally based on yttria partially stabilised zirconia (YPSZ) coatings and are commonly used coatings in the high temperature, combustion region of gas turbines. TBC permit to increase the temperature of combustion, increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine. Therefore, an engine equipped with TBC can produce a larger amount of energy over its lifetime. This increase in produced energy can be compared with the energy needed for the manufacturing and installation of TBC. The comparison can be performed in terms of the “energy return” (or “energy returned for energy invested”, EROI or EROEI). The qualitative analysis performed in the present study indicates that this return is large in comparison to that of other energy producing systems.
