A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF EROSION BEHAVIOR OF HYDRO TURBINE BLADES AND THEIR REMEDIES BY HVOF PROCESS

Hydropower is one of the most environment friendly sources of energy known to mankind. Hydropower is also a renewable source of energy, which makes its development even more important over fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources. Countries like India, which have a latent potential for hydroelectric power, should invest in this resource to meet their country's enormous energy needs. Silt erosion is a tenacious hurdle in the efficient operation of hydroelectric plants. The costs involved in repairing the damage done by silt erosion as well as the reduced power output are not favorable. Solution to this problem lies in the use of protective coatings which have proven to be quite effective against silt erosion. Furthermore, predicting the erosion affected areas beforehand using simulations also help to combat silt erosion. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the slurry erosion resistance of the hard protective coatings used on hydro turbine blades to minimize the damage done by silt erosion.