Greater efficiency can be principally achieved by increasing the combustion and gas intake temperature in the gas turbine. With the use of new materials and construction systems in the high-pressure part of gas turbines, combined cycle power plants are now achieving efficiencies of more than 60%. A further increase to 63% can be attained in the next few years. Important aspects in this respect include the development of more high-performing coatings and cooling concepts for the turbines.
The image shows a fine-grained ceramic thermal insulation layer being applied to a blade with a plasma beam. In future, it is planned that turbine blades will be able to withstand gas temperatures of more than 1,400 degrees Celsius in order to increase the energy yields. That will only be possible by using a combination of protective layers. ©Siemens
