Abstract: A high temperature seal that may include an interior region comprising a material that swells when exposed to a high temperature environment and at least one projection that is able to be inserted into a slot, and a coating that substantially prevents swelling to coated areas of the interior region. The coating may be disposed upon an exterior surface of the interior region such that a distal end of at least one projection remains at least partially uncoated and the remainder of the interior region is substantially covered by the coating. The interior region may include a ceramic matrix composite.

Abstract: A system in a turbine engine for preventing wear on a tip shroud of a turbine blade that includes a pocket formed in a contact surface of the tip shroud and a plug that fits within the pocket and has a durable outer surface. The durable outer surface may include a cobalt-based hardfacing powder. The pocket may be machined out of the contact surface, and the plug may include a plug of predetermined size that fits snugly into the pocket. In some embodiments, the durable outer surface may substantially align with the contact surface after the plug is fitted into the pocket. In other embodiments, the durable outer surface may remain slightly raised from the contact surface after the plug has been fitted into the pocket.

Abstract: A method for determining the radial deformation of a blade in a turbine that includes: 1) taking an initial measurement of the blade with one or more proximity sensors disposed around the circumference of a stage of blades; 2) after the initial measurement, taking a second measurement of the blade with the one or more proximity sensors; 3) making a determination of the radial deformation of the blade by comparing the initial measurement to the second measurement. The initial measurement and the second measurement may be taken while the turbine is operating.

Abstract: An erosion gauge for measuring a chord length of an eroded turbine blade in a steam turbine that may include: a jaw that includes a lower jaw that includes a lower jaw surface and an upper jaw that includes an upper jaw surface such that the lower jaw surface and the upper jaw surface oppose each other; a sliding scale that connects the lower jaw to the upper jaw, wherein a first end of the sliding scale is fixed to the lower jaw and a second end of the sliding scale slides through the upper jaw such that the distance between the lower jaw surface and the upper jaw surface may be varied; and an electronic depth gauge that determines the distance between the lower jaw surface and the upper jaw surface. The lower jaw surface may include a valley insert.

Abstract: A method of predicting emissions that may include the steps of: determining a first capacity for emissions during a sliding window of time; determining a used capacity for emissions during the sliding window of time; and determining an available capacity for emissions by calculating the differential between the first capacity and the used capacity. The emission violation may be an opacity emission violation. The first capacity may be the average opacity level available to a fossil fuel fired power plant over the sliding window of time before the opacity emission violation occurs.