Abstract: A method for identifying an unfolded non-synchronous blade vibration frequency in blades on a rotating rotor using a plurality of probes spaced from each other about the rotor. A set of data is acquired from the probes during a predetermined number of rotor revolutions and is processed using a Fourier analysis to generate an output representative of frequencies and phase shift angles corresponding to blade vibrations. The phase shift angles are used to identify a subharmonic for a blade vibration frequency to provide an output identifying the vibration frequency. A space dispersion and time dispersion of probes is described to increase the accuracy of the subharmonic determination using the phase shift angles.

Abstract: A remote-controlled dynamoelectric machine inspection vehicle that can fit and travel within a narrow air gap between a stator and rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. The inspection vehicle has an effectuator that can remotely activate a hammer driven by a high pressure pneumatic three-stage miniature piston that propels the hammer against a stator slot wedge creating an impact force that causes the wedge to vibrate. The vibrations are sensed to determine the tightness of the wedge.

Abstract: Electrical generators used for power generation typically operate at high voltage. The High operating voltage results in a severe electrical stress environment for the generator conductor insulation system. The high electrical stress cal lead to a phenomena such as corona, partial discharge and arcing that can cause damage to the insulation and conductors. Disclosed is a novel method and system of detecting partial discharge activity within an electric generator. The method employs at least two Rogowski loops non-contactingly surrounding individual iso-phase bus conductors, where the loops are wired in differential mode to detect fast moving electrical pulses indicative of partial discharge.

Abstract: A seal assembly forming a seal with a rotatable shaft of a hydrogen-cooled generator is provided. The seal assembly includes a ring assembly disposed about the rotatable shaft. The ring assembly includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A hydrogen side ring is coupled to a generator frame of the generator. An insulating structure is positioned between the hydrogen side ring and the generator frame to provide electrical insulation between the hydrogen side ring and the generator frame. An air side ring is disposed adjacent to the hydrogen side ring and the seal structure is coupled to the air side ring. Structure for supplying oil to the ring assembly is provided, such that the oil flows through the ring assembly to an interface between the rotatable shaft and the seal structure so as to substantially limit direct contact between the rotatable shaft and the seal structure.

Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction process with a palladium catalyst for reducing NOx in a gas, using hydrogen as a reducing agent. A zirconium sulfate (ZrO2)SO4 catalyst support material with about 0.01-2.0 wt. % Pd is applied to a catalytic bed positioned in a flow of exhaust gas at about 70-200° C. The support material may be (ZrO2—SiO2)SO4. H2O and hydrogen may be injected into the exhaust gas upstream of the catalyst to a concentration of about 15-23 vol. % H2O and a molar ratio for H2/NOx in the range of 10-100. A hydrogen-containing fuel may be synthesized in an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle power plant for combustion in a gas turbine to produce the exhaust gas flow. A portion of the fuel may be diverted for the hydrogen injection.

Abstract: The gas turbine exhaust sound suppressor, or exhaust silencer, and method are for a gas turbine and reduce low frequency exhaust flow noise while avoiding the creation of additional acoustical standing waves, e.g. from wake shedding at certain predictable frequencies. A plurality of elongated flow obstruction members, e.g. pipes or airfoils, extend within the exhaust passage to reduce acoustic waves within the exhaust flow, and at least some of the elongated flow obstruction members have different widths. Each of the elongated flow obstruction members is positioned at a respective angle within a predetermined angular range transverse to the flow direction, with the predetermined angular range being greater than or equal to 10 degrees from normal to the flow direction.

Abstract: A fuel cell for a fuel cell generator including a housing including a gas flow path for receiving a fuel from a fuel source and directing the fuel across the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an elongate member including opposing first and second ends and defining an interior cathode portion and an exterior anode portion. The interior cathode portion includes an electrode in contact with an oxidant flow path. The exterior anode portion includes an electrode in contact with the fuel in the gas flow path. The anode portion includes a catalyst material for effecting fuel reformation along the fuel cell between the opposing ends. A fuel reformation control layer is applied over the catalyst material for reducing a rate of fuel reformation on the fuel cell. The control layer effects a variable reformation rate along the length of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a shaft and a rotor carried by the shaft and having a rotor body, a plurality of rotor windings carried by the rotor body, and a retaining ring surrounding the rotor windings adjacent an end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive stud extends radially outwardly from the shaft adjacent the end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive member includes a first end section coupled to the electrically conductive stud and having a loop shape, a second end section coupled to a corresponding one of the rotor windings, and an intermediate section between the first and second end sections. An insulation assembly is between the shaft and the retaining ring and surrounding the intermediate section to define at least one gap with adjacent portions thereof.

Abstract: An electrical machine may include a plurality of stator coil ends each having a fluid passageway therein. The electrical machine may further include a plurality of rings and a plurality of axial connector assemblies for connecting the plurality of stator coil ends to the plurality of rings. Each axial connector assembly may include a header cap including an open end received on a respective stator coil end and a closed end opposite the open end, the closed end defining a coil spherical connector portion. The header cap may have a fluid port therein coupled to the fluid passageway of the respective stator coil end. A ring spherical connector portion may be carried by a respective ring, and a pair of connector members may receive therebetween the coil and ring spherical connector potions.

Abstract: An apparatus for a gas turbine engine, such as a transition (225, 325), includes a metal shell (200, 300) surrounding a body (230, 330) that is comprised of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC)-comprising structure (231) and a ceramic insulating layer (265) bonded thereto. The metal shell (200, 300) defines a space (250) adapted to contain the transition body (230, 330), and comprises at least one protrusion (220) adapted to contact the transition body (230, 330). A pin (255) passes through the transition body (230, 330) and the metal shell (200, 300) at their forward ends, and a compliant porous element (240) is adapted to fit in the space (250) between the metal shell (200, 300) and the transition body (230, 330).

Abstract: A combustion turbine includes a compressor section, a combustion section downstream from the compressor section, and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. A diffuser section is downstream from the turbine section and has an outer wall, an inner wall, and at least one strut member extending therebetween. The outer wall has at least one first gas passageway therein, the inner wall has at least one second gas passageway therein, and the at least one strut member has at least one third gas passageway therein. The at least one first, second and third gas passageways deliver gas therethrough to assist attachment of a boundary layer to adjacent surfaces of the outer wall, the inner wall, and the at least one strut, respectively.

Abstract: A layered abradable thermal barrier coating (TBC) 20 that is stable, abradabie, and sinter resistant up to about 1400° C. A tungsten bronze structured ceramic of the form Ba6?3xRE8+2xTi18O54, where 0<x<1.5, and RE represents a rare earth lanthanide cation, is applied as a topcoat over a yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) undercoat (18) on a bond-coated (17) superalloy metal structure (16). The tungsten bronze structure provides abradability and thermal conductivity. The YSZ layer is a proven concept for thermal barrier coatings, and has demonstrated better adhesion than newer chemistries This combination of layers has synergy that takes advantage of both materials to provide an abradable coating with an extended lifespan on a superalloy substrate compared to prior coatings. The topcoat may be applied with fugitive inclusions that produce porosity to increase abradabilty for improved blade tip clearance control in the turbine section of gas turbines.

Abstract: A turbine blade sealing system for reducing a gap between a tip of a turbine blade and a stationary shroud of a turbine engine. The sealing system includes a plurality of flexible seal strips extending from a pressure side of a turbine blade generally orthogonal to the turbine blade. During operation of the turbine engine, the flexible seal strips flex radially outward extending towards the stationary shroud of the turbine engine, thereby reducing the leakage of air past the turbine blades and increasing the efficiency of the turbine engine.

Abstract: A structure for use in high temperature applications is provided. The structure may include an inner ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material (12). At least a portion of this CMC material includes waves that define a first wavy surface (140 and an opposed second wavy surface (16). A ceramic insulation material (18) may be bonded with the first wavy surface and includes a distal surface (20) for exposure to a high temperature environment. A core material (22) is bonded with at least a portion of the second wavy surface. One or more cooling channels (24) are disposed in the core material. An outer CMC material (26) may be joined to a portion of the inner CMC material. The core material is a material different than a matrix material of the inner CMC material.

Abstract: A method of increasing service interval periods in a steam turbine by neutralizing sodium hydroxide in contaminated steam in a high temperature and a high pressure portion of a steam turbine by placing a protective covering over at least a portion of each of the bolts of a nozzle block assembly. The protective covering neutralizes contaminants in contaminated steam to reduce stress cracking of the bolts during steam turbine operation, and thus extend the useful life of the bolts and reduce the need for service work to repair or replace damaged bolts.

Abstract: A sealing interface for a component in a turbine machine, wherein a plug is mechanically affixed within an entrance passage of an aperture. The plug is secured in place within the entrance passage through deformation of an inner end of the plug to cause the plug to mechanically engage a groove formed adjacent the entrance passage.

Abstract: A method for measuring a tangential tightness of a stator coil within an armature slot of a stator assembly in an electric generator. The stator coil is excited to produce a vibratory response therein. The vibratory response of the stator coil is detected and a frequency response function of the vibratory response is determined. A tangential tightness of the stator coil within the armature slot is estimated based on the frequency response function of the vibratory response of the stator coil.

Abstract: A gas turbine component (20) with a layer of ceramic material (22) defining a wear surface (21), in which an array of cross-shaped depressions (26A, 26B) formed in the wear surface (21) define a continuous labyrinth of orthogonal walls (28, 30) of the ceramic material, and reduce the area of the wear surface (21) by about 50%. Within a representative area (36) of the wear surface (21), the depressions (26A, 26B) provide a ratio of a lineal sum of depression perimeters (27) divided by the representative area (36) of the wear surface of least 0.9 per unit of measurement for improved abradability characteristics of the wear surface (21).

Abstract: A method for making a gas turbine component (100). A central core (20) is positioned to occupy a space that will define a central channel (42), and an outer channel core (30) is positioned spaced apart from the central core (20). A mold (35) is formed around the central core (20) and the outer channel core (30), so that an exterior wall (32) contacts the mold (35). A substrate material, such as a metal alloy (247) in liquid form, is added to the mold (35) to form an internal volume (41) of the component (100). The central core (20) and the outer channel core (30) are removed, and interconnect channels (44) are formed between the thus-formed central channel (42) and the inner portion (49) of the outer channel (62) thus far formed. A preform (55) is placed into the inner portion (49) and may have a desired outer surface (57) shape. An overlay material is applied to form an outer layer (60), thus defining the remainder of the outer channel (62), which is obtained upon removal of the preform (55).

Abstract: A method and apparatus which quickly clamps onto the copper strand bundle in the slot of a dynamoelectric machine and rips out the coil from the slot one axial position at a time. As the copper bundle is ripped from the slot the tooling moves along the slot from one end to the other.