Turbinsblad

Turbinsblad, or turbine blade, is a blade that forms part of a turbine and is designed to extract energy from a moving fluid, converting it into mechanical work. Blades are typically attached to a turbine wheel or rotor and are shaped as airfoils to maximize energy transfer while withstanding high speeds and mechanical loads.

In gas and steam turbines, blades are exposed to extreme temperatures, pressures, and rotational stresses. Gas turbine blades often operate in high-temperature sections and use advanced metal alloys, such as nickel-based superalloys, along with protective coatings like thermal barrier coatings. Steam turbine blades must endure high steam pressures and can be made from nickel- or iron-based alloys, with coatings to reduce corrosion and wear. Wind turbine blades differ in material and purpose; they are usually long composite structures made of glass or carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, designed to convert wind energy into rotational motion.

Manufacturing methods include casting, forging, and powder metallurgy, with increasingly common use of additive manufacturing for complex geometries. Surface treatments, coatings, and precise aerodynamic shaping are essential to reduce erosion, fatigue, and thermal stresses. Design features commonly include an airfoil profile, twist along the blade length, root connections, and measures to cope with centrifugal forces and vibrations.

Operation and maintenance focus on fatigue life, thermal aging, corrosion, and impact damage. Blades are inspected regularly, and failures may arise from crack growth, leading-edge erosion, or foreign object damage. Turbine blade technology continues to advance through improved materials, coatings, and computational aerodynamics to improve efficiency and reliability.