The Energy Materials Performance Group provides a focus for the selection of materials, lifing and engineering of advanced power system components.
The appropriate evaluation and selection of materials is vital to ensure that energy supply and delivery technologies are reliable, affordable and properly implemented. This includes assessment of potential routes for materials degradation, component life prediction and process/component monitoring. A particular focus for the group is on a wide range of high temperature materials degradation mechanisms including corrosion and oxidation, as well as synergistic degradation routes including stress-corrosion and erosion-corrosion, for candidate materials in different operating environments.
This activity cuts across the full breadth of activities in energy and power at Cranfield, considering materials performance from bioenergy to zero-emission power systems, including gas turbines, heat exchangers, gas clean-up systems and CO2 transport pipelines. Researchers in the Energy Materials Performance Group carry out near industrial-scale experimental and modelling studies using a range of unique laboratory and pilot-scale facilities. This research helps to predict real world performance and provide engineering data for component design and scale-up. In addition to the performance of materials and components in real and simulated process environments, this research contributes to feasibility and proof-of-concept studies for new power generation systems.
