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Raptor has been claimed to be able to deliver "long life ... and more benign turbine environments".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Raptor

The Raptor has hot oxygen flowing out of the oxidizer preburner. This limits material choices to avoid severe oxidation. How and compared to what does that deliver a more benign turbine environment?

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  • $\begingroup$ The full quote is from Gwynne Shotwell testifying to Congress in 2015. See page 14. It isn't immediately clear to me if she might be comparing it to the RD-180 or the Merlin or both. "The engine utilizes a full flow staged combustion cycle, promising the highest performance possible for a methane rocket engine, while also delivering long life through new SpaceX technologies and more benign turbine environments." $\endgroup$
    – Erin Anne
    Commented May 14, 2023 at 9:01

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For the same amount of pre-turbine combustion, the gasses in a full flow turbine are much cooler and higher volume than those with a partial flow. Both of these mean the tolerances in the turbo can be a little more relaxed, without losing as much performance.

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  • $\begingroup$ Do you have a source for this information? $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Commented May 14, 2023 at 13:13

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