Abstract: Articles having surfaces with enhanced wetting properties are presented. One embodiment is an article having a surface configured for promoting a phase transformation from a liquid phase to a vapor phase. The article comprises an element comprising a surface disposed to be in contact with a liquid to be transformed to a vapor, and the surface comprises a plurality of surface features having a median feature size, a, and a median feature spacing, b, such that the ratio b/a is up to about 8. The surface comprises a material disposed to contact the liquid, and this material has a nominal wettability sufficient to generate a nominal contact angle of up to about 80 degrees with a drop of the liquid. Another embodiment is a fuel rod for a nuclear reactor comprising a surface configured as described above.

Abstract: An atomizer, comprising a pre-filming region comprising a surface configured to reduce a mean drop size of a liquid to be atomized, wherein the surface has an effective contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of less than about 30 degrees; and a lip portion disposed at an end of the pre-filming region and configured to create hydrodynamic instabilities in a liquid film, wherein the lip portion comprises an alternating pattern of wetting and non-wetting surfaces, wherein the non-wetting surface comprises a contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of greater than 90 degrees, and the wetting surface comprises a contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A method of preventing thermal hydrocarbon degradation deposits on a surface of a gas turbine component, the method includes providing the turbine component comprising the surface configured for contacting a hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the substrate comprises a material having a nominal liquid wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, a nominal contact angle, disposing a plurality of features on the substrate to form an anti-deposition surface texture, wherein the plurality of features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface has an effective wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, an effective contact angle of greater than the nominal contact angle, and the features comprise a width dimension (a), and a spacing dimension (b), wherein the features prevent the hydrocarbon fluid from penetrating into the surface texture and thereby reduce the adhesion of the thermal hydrocarbon deposits to the surface.

Abstract: A barrier seal system comprises a rotatable shaft disposed within an outer housing. The rotatable shaft axially extends from a high-pressure region to a low-pressure region within the outer housing. At least a portion of the rotatable shaft, typically the portion disposed adjacent to the low-pressure region, comprises an oleophobic surface. The system further comprises a barrier seal that radially extends from the outer housing to the rotatable shaft and defines a gap between the barrier seal and the rotatable shaft. A barrier gas injector is provided for injecting a barrier gas into the gap to flow from the high-pressure region to the low-pressure region.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.

Abstract: The article comprising an antifouling surface is provided. The surface comprises a material having a nominal liquid wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, a nominal contact angle of at least about 30 degrees; and a texture comprising a plurality of features disposed on the surface. The features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface has an effective wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, an effective contact angle greater than the nominal contact angle. The features comprise a height dimension (h), a width dimension (a), a spacing dimension (b) such that, ratio b/a is less than about 4, and ratio h/a is less than about 10. In one embodiment, a turbine component comprising an antifouling surface is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a substrate. The method further includes disposing a coating mixture on a surface of the substrate, wherein the coating mixture comprises a braze material and a texture-providing material. The method further includes heating the braze material to bond the texture-providing material to the surface of the substrate to form the article having the wetting-resistant surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator that includes a cylinder having an input port, a piston disposed at least partially inside of the cylinder, and one or more piston rings disposed in a circumferential piston ring groove or grooves. The actuator also includes at least one spring, inserted into the circumferential piston ring groove adjacent to the one or more piston rings and a high pressure side of said piston ring. The spring preloads the one or more piston rings to seal between a low pressure face of the one or more piston rings and a low pressure face of the circumferential piston ring groove. The invention also includes a method for moving an adjustable seal in a radial direction using the piston-ring sealed actuator. The method includes moving the adjustable seal in an axial direction, breaking a primary axial contact between the adjustable seal and a primary sealing face.

Abstract: A coated turbine engine component includes a turbine engine component and an erosion resistant coating disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the turbine engine component using electron beam physical vapor deposition or ion plasma cathodic arc deposition.

Abstract: A gas supply and pressure control system delivers controlled pressurized gas according to an electrical command. The system includes a gas supply sub-system outputting a continuous high-pressure gas supply. A pressure control sub-system is provided in fluid communication with the gas supply sub-system and receives the continuous high-pressure gas supply. The pressure control sub-system provides a modulated pressure to a downstream volume, such as actuators for active seals in a turbomachinery environment, based on the electrical command.