Next programme period 2018-2021
The new programme period of KME, 2018-2021, is now starting up! KME welcomes new member and stakeholders. Interested to participate, either as company or academic/institute researchers, contact Bertil Wahlund.
Current programme period 2014-2018
The overall goal of the programme is to participate in the transition to a sustainable energy system in the long term. Thanks to research already conducted by KME, previous problems of severe corrosion and fouling in boilers caused by biomass and waste fuel combustion have been largely solved. KME research successes have also led to the implementation of new corrosion resistant steel in high temperature steam turbines and the development of materials and new coatings for gas turbines.
However, as greater e ciency in electricity production is required and fuel flexibility increases, new challenges continually arise. More corrosion resistant materials are needed and a deeper knowledge of corrosion processes, and mechanical properties and characteristics is essential for the production and approval of new materials and processes.
KME's research programme is designed to achieve increased electricity production, improve fuel exibility and enhance operating exibility. KME aims to implement the results within ve to ten years. To achieve this KME focuses on both process and technology solutions, as well as materials development in boiler systems and processes, and steam and gas turbine system and processes.
KME's research includes exposure and application tests of various materials in boilers, the evaluation of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and service life of materials, and the development and test of measures to reduce corrosion and erosion. KME also concentrates on developing performance enhancing materials for gas turbines.
The research also focuses on fuel exibility, availability and e ciency, as well as testing and validating materials for cyclic operations in gas turbines, thermal plant processes, and the processability of advanced materials.
KME's overarching research goals within the current program period:
- Increased power production through greater electrical efficiency, improved availability and streamlined production of power and heat from renewable fuels and waste in thermal energy conversion processes.
- Improved fuel flexibility thanks to greater opportunities to use waste fuels which are technically complicated in terms of combustion while maintaining electrical efficiency in steam turbine processes and the option of using renewable fuels in gas turbine processes.
- Improved operating flexibility, and the option of cyclic operation of thermal energy processes.