Pump Impeller Erosion – A Major Cause of Pump Failure

Cavitation Challenges in Hydropower Systems

Hydropower turbines operate under extreme hydraulic conditions where pressure fluctuations and high flow velocity often generate cavitation.

When vapor bubbles collapse on turbine surfaces, they create micro-jet impacts capable of removing metal particles from the runner blades.

Over time this leads to:

Severe pitting

Blade erosion

Reduced turbine efficiency

Expensive shutdown repairs

Why Hard Coatings Often Fail

Traditional protective coatings such as ceramic or epoxy systems rely on surface hardness to resist wear.

However, cavitation produces repeated high-energy shockwaves, which cause rigid coatings to crack or delaminate.

Once the coating fails, the underlying metal becomes exposed to rapid erosion.

MetaLine Series 700 provides a flexible cavitation protection layer designed to absorb hydraulic shock energy.

Key advantages include:

Energy absorbing elastomeric structure

Resistance to cavitation erosion

Excellent adhesion to steel surfaces

Long-term durability under dynamic loads

This makes the coating suitable for protecting:

Turbine runner blades

Draft tubes

Guide vanes

Turbine housings

Applying elastomeric cavitation protection can significantly improve hydropower plant reliability by:

Reducing cavitation damage

Extending turbine service intervals

Improving hydraulic efficiency

Minimizing costly turbine repairs