Abstract: A gas (or steam) turbine is disclosed including: a rotor with at least one array of rotor blades, a stator with a casing and a shroud ring; the shroud ring extends around the array of blades rotor and the casing extends around the shroud ring. The shroud ring has radial size independent from temperature due to its material and is movably coupled with the casing so to allow the casing of the stator to thermally expand and contract during operation of the turbine while maintaining the shroud ring radial size. Also, the rotor thermally expands and contracts during operation of the turbine, and, at working temperature, tip regions of the rotor blades are in close proximity to an inner region of the shroud ring so that clearance is small or zero at working condition.

Abstract: A gas (or steam) turbine is disclosed including: a rotor with at least one array of rotor blades, a stator with a casing and a shroud ring; the shroud ring extends around the array of blades rotor and the casing extends around the shroud ring. The shroud ring has radial size independent from temperature due to its material and is movably coupled with the casing so to allow the casing of the stator to thermally expand and contract during operation of the turbine while maintaining the shroud ring radial size. Also, the rotor thermally expands and contracts during operation of the turbine, and, at working temperature, tip regions of the rotor blades are in close proximity to an inner region of the shroud ring so that clearance is small or zero at working condition.

Abstract: In a system and method for processing data, a user interface enables a user to enter mapping data to enable incoming data to be converted to a common data format. A database stores the mapping data and data quality rules, and a receiver receives data from a data source. The processor applies the data quality rules to the common format data to identify any potential errors in the common format data and notifies the user of any potential errors found in the common format data. The data rules may include data structure rules and/or data trending requirements based upon data trends or norms. The data source may be an employer, insurance company or other entity. The data may include insurance claim data, medical data and/or prescription data and/or eligibility and/or occupational and non-occupational data.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a blade topology that reduces the effects of vibratory stress on a turbomachine blade having a plurality of discrete locations, wherein each discrete location has a thickness. The method includes the steps of creating a computational model of the blade, using the computational model to modify the thickness of at least one of the discrete locations a predetermined amount, determining a combination of a discrete location and predetermined thickness amount that reduces vibratory stress on the blade, and applying the determined combination to the computational model to create a revised blade. A turbomachine including a blade having the determined blade topology is also provided.

Abstract: A shroud is provided for separating an air turbine starter housing from a turbine wheel. The shroud comprises a ring and a bumper. The ring is configured to be disposed between the turbine wheel and the housing and has an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface that defines a flow channel. The bumper is coupled to and extends radially inwardly from the ring inner peripheral surface and defines a bumper section of the ring flow channel. At least a portion of the bumper section has a cross-sectional flow area that is less than another cross sectional flow area of the ring flow channel.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a blade topology that reduces the effects of vibratory stress on a turbomachine blade having a plurality of discrete locations, wherein each discrete location has a thickness. The method includes the steps of creating a computational model of the blade, using the computational model to modify the thickness of at least one of the discrete locations a predetermined amount, determining a combination of a discrete location and predetermined thickness amount that reduces vibratory stress on the blade, and applying the determined combination to the computational model to create a revised blade. A turbomachine including a blade having the determined blade topology is also provided.