(3rd International Conference on Silting Problems in Hydropower Projects, 27-28 February 2008, New Delhi, India, pp. 245-264)
Hydro turbines on in Indian and Chinese terrain face severe loss of turbine and runner components especially in rainy season due to erosion and cavitation damages. Various grades of steels have been in use and proven inadequate to face the damages. Therefore new grade of duplex stainless steel were developed. The various properties of such as mechanical and wear resistance were specially optimized for hydro applications. The mechanical properties and silt erosion response of the duplex stainless steel are compared with Martensitic stainless steel, a traditional favorite material for hydro turbine applications internationally. The effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the martensitic as well as duplex stainless steel and its subsequent erosion characteristics are also studied.
