Abstract: A flow directing assembly for use in a turbine engine comprising: a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, each of the blades including a radial projecting airfoil with a concave pressure side and a convex suction side that extend from a platform; and a plurality of flow passages, each flow passage defined by the airfoils of neighboring blades and an inner wall formed by abutting platforms of neighboring blades, the inner wall forming the inner radial boundary of the flow passage; wherein the inner wall of one or more of the flow passages comprises means for reducing frictional losses between the flow through the turbine engine and the inner wall. The means for reducing frictional losses may comprise a non-axisymmetrical trough positioned between neighboring airfoils that is configured to reduce frictional losses.

Abstract: A method of operating a turbine engine, wherein the turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a plurality of successive axially stacked stages that include a row of circumferentially spaced stator blades and circumferentially spaced rotor blades, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced injection ports disposed upstream of a first row of stator blades in the turbine; the injection ports comprising a port through which cooling air is injected into the hot-gas path of the turbine, the method comprising: configuring the stator blades in the first row of stator blades such that the circumferential position of a leading edge of one of the stator blades is located within +/?15% pitch of the first row of stator blades of the circumferential location of the injection port midpoint of at least a plurality of the injection ports.

Abstract: A flow directing assembly for use in a turbine engine comprising: a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, each of the blades including a radial projecting airfoil with a concave pressure side and a convex suction side that extend from a platform; and a plurality of flow passages, each flow passage defined by the airfoils of neighboring blades and an inner wall formed by abutting platforms of neighboring blades, the inner wall forming the inner radial boundary of the flow passage; wherein the inner wall of one or more of the flow passages comprises means for reducing frictional losses between the flow through the turbine engine and the inner wall. The means for reducing frictional losses may comprise a non-axisymmetrical trough positioned between neighboring airfoils that is configured to reduce frictional losses.

Abstract: A method of operating a turbine engine, wherein the turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a plurality of successive axially stacked stages that include a row of circumferentially spaced stator blades and circumferentially spaced rotor blades, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced injection ports disposed upstream of a first row of stator blades in the turbine; the injection ports comprising a port through which cooling air is injected into the hot-gas path of the turbine, the method comprising: configuring the stator blades in the first row of stator blades such that the circumferential position of a leading edge of one of the stator blades is located within +/?15% pitch of the first row of stator blades of the circumferential location of the injection port midpoint of at least a plurality of the injection ports.

Abstract: A power generating turbine system that may include: 1) a turbine that includes two sections, a high-pressure turbine section and a low-pressure turbine section that each reside on a separate shaft; 2) an axial compressor that compresses a flow of air that is then mixed with a fuel and combusted in a combustor such that the resulting flow of hot gas is directed through the turbine; 3) a two-pole generator; 4) a four-pole generator; 5) a first shaft that couples the high-pressure turbine section to the axial compressor and the two-pole generator such that, in operation, the high-pressure turbine section drives the axial compressor and the two-pole generator; and 6) a second shaft that couples the low-pressure turbine section to the four-pole generator such that, in operation, the low-pressure turbine section drives the four-pole generator.

Abstract: A power generating turbine system that may include an axial compressor that compresses a flow of air that is then mixed with a fuel and combusted in a combustor such that the resulting flow of hot gas is directed through a turbine. The turbine may include a high-pressure turbine section and a low-pressure turbine section. The high-pressure turbine section may be coupled via a first shaft to the axial compressor such that in operation the high-pressure turbine section drives the axial compressor. And, the low-pressure turbine section may be coupled via a second shaft to a low-speed generator such that in operation the low-pressure turbine section drives the low-speed generator.

Abstract: A power generating turbine system that includes: a turbine that includes three sections, a high-pressure turbine section, a mid-pressure turbine section, and a low-pressure turbine section that each reside on a separate shaft; 2) an axial compressor that compresses a flow of air that is then mixed with a fuel and combusted in a combustor such that the resulting flow of hot gas is directed through the turbine, the axial compressor comprising a high-pressure compressor section and a low-pressure compressor section; 3) a two-pole generator; 4) a four-pole generator; 5) a first shaft that couples the high-pressure turbine section to the high-pressure compressor section such that, in operation, the high-pressure turbine section drives the high-pressure compressor section; 6) a second shaft that couples the mid-pressure turbine section to the high-pressure compressor section and the two-pole generator such that, in operation, the mid-pressure turbine section drives the high-pressure compressor section and two-pole

Abstract: A power generating turbine system that may include: 1) a turbine that includes two sections, a high-pressure turbine section and a low-pressure turbine section that each reside on a separate shaft; 2) an axial compressor that compresses a flow of air that is then mixed with a fuel and combusted in a combustor such that the resulting flow of hot gas is directed through the turbine, the axial compressor comprising a low-pressure compressor section and a high-pressure compressor section; 3) a four-pole generator; 4) a first shaft that couples the high-pressure turbine section to the high-pressure compressor section such that, in operation, the high-pressure turbine section drives the high-pressure compressor; and 5) a second shaft that couples the low-pressure turbine section to the four-pole generator and the low-pressure compressor such that, in operation, the low-pressure turbine section drives the four-pole generator and the low-pressure compressor.