Abstract: An impingement sleeve and methods for designing and forming an impingement sleeve are disclosed. In one embodiment, the impingement sleeve includes a body configured to at least partially surround a transition piece of the combustor. The impingement sleeve further includes a plurality of cooling holes defined in the body, the plurality of cooling holes having a cooling hole pattern configured to provide a desired operational value for the transition piece. At least one of the plurality of cooling holes has a chamfer extending at least partially between an inlet and an outlet of the at least one of the plurality of cooling holes. At least a portion of the plurality of cooling holes are generally longitudinally asymmetric.

Abstract: Pressure maskers for masking at least one passageway of an article include a body portion that surrounds at least a portion of the article around the at least one passageway, at least one fluid inlet connected to the body portion that provides a conduit for pressurized masking fluid to pass from an exterior of the pressure masker to an interior of the pressure masker, wherein the article is at least partially disposed within the interior of the pressure masker, and at least one seal that seals the body portion at least partially around the article such that the pressurized masking fluid that enters the interior of the pressure masker is at least partially forced through the at least one passageway.

Abstract: A method for dimensionally inspecting a component of a gas turbine system is provided. The method includes disposing the component on a fixture for stabilizing the component. Also included is probing a first datum location of the component with a coordinate measurement machine for establishing a first datum point. Further included is probing at least one location of the component with the coordinate measurement machine to determine at least one measurement relative to the first datum point. Yet further included is displaying the at least one measurement in an output report.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for in situ repair of a turbine part is provided. The method includes the steps of accessing the turbine part while assembled to other turbine components, wherein the turbine part includes a region with a structural flaw near a hole in the turbine part, and wherein the hole is configured to flow a cooling fluid. The method also includes welding the structural flaw without performing a heat treatment of the turbine part, wherein welding the structural flaw includes laser welding that maintains a structure of the region.

Abstract: Methods of pressure coating a target surface of an article comprising one or more passageways include fluidly connecting a pressure masker comprising pressurized masking fluid to a first side of at least one passageway, passing the pressurized masking fluid through the at least one passageway from the first side to a second side comprising the target surface, and, coating the target surface using a coating material, wherein the pressurized masking fluid passing through the at least one passageway prevents the coating material from permanently altering a cross sectional area of the at least one passageway.

Abstract: An impingement sleeve and methods for designing and forming an impingement sleeve are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for designing an impingement sleeve is disclosed. The method includes determining a desired operational value for a transition piece, inputting a combustor characteristic into a processor, and utilizing the combustor characteristic in the processor to determine a cooling hole pattern for the impingement sleeve, the cooling hole pattern comprising a plurality of cooling holes, at least a portion of the plurality of cooling holes being generally longitudinally asymmetric, the cooling hole pattern providing the desired operational value.

Abstract: A surface machining mechanism modifies a repair segment of a body having a contoured surface. The surface machining mechanism includes a frame assembly and one or more guide members for supporting the frame assembly on the contoured surface. The guide members mate with the contoured surface and are movable along the contoured surface to guide the frame assembly. A machining apparatus is supported by the frame assembly. The machining apparatus engages the repair segment of the body as the machining apparatus is moved along the contoured surface. A method of modifying a repair segment of a body having a contoured surface with the surface machining mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to nut retention devices and, more particularly, to nut retention devices having a strap that can be fixed to a distal end of a threaded member without damage to the threaded member or nut, thereby permitting their reuse. In one embodiment, the invention provides a nut retention device comprising: a body having a nut engaging opening; and a deformable strap extending from the body, wherein, in an operative state, the nut engaging opening immovably receives a nut that is threaded on a threaded member and the strap is positioned to fixedly engage the threaded member to retain the nut.

Abstract: A system for detecting defects in a combustion duct of a combustion system of a combustion turbine engine while the combustion turbine engine operates, wherein the combustion duct comprises a hot side, which is exposed to combustion gases and, opposing the hot side, a cold side. The system may include: an indicator coating disposed on an outer surface of the combustion duct, the indicator coating comprising a detectable substance; and a gas sensor positioned downstream of the combustor, the gas sensor configured to take a measurement of the amount of the detectable substance in the combustion products of the combustion turbine engine.

Abstract: Methods of pressure cleaning a target surface of an article comprising one or more passageways include fluidly connecting a pressure masker comprising pressurized masking fluid to a first side of at least one passageway, passing the pressurized masking fluid through the at least one passageway from the first side to a second side comprising the target surface, and, cleaning the target surface using a cleaning material, wherein the pressurized masking fluid passing through the at least one passageway prevents the cleaning material from permanently altering a cross sectional area of the at least one passageway.

Abstract: Methods of pressure coating a target surface of an article comprising one or more passageways include fluidly connecting a pressure masker comprising pressurized masking fluid to a first side of at least one passageway, passing the pressurized masking fluid through the at least one passageway from the first side to a second side comprising the target surface, and, coating the target surface using a coating material, wherein the pressurized masking fluid passing through the at least one passageway prevents the coating material from permanently altering a cross sectional area of the at least one passageway.

Abstract: An impingement sleeve and methods for designing and forming an impingement sleeve are disclosed. In one embodiment, the impingement sleeve includes a body configured to at least partially surround a transition piece of the combustor. The impingement sleeve further includes a plurality of cooling holes defined in the body, the plurality of cooling holes having a cooling hole pattern configured to provide a desired operational value for the transition piece. At least one of the plurality of cooling holes has a chamfer extending at least partially between an inlet and an outlet of the at least one of the plurality of cooling holes. At least a portion of the plurality of cooling holes are generally longitudinally asymmetric.

Abstract: A system for detecting defects in a combustion duct of a combustion system of a combustion turbine engine while the combustion turbine engine operates, wherein the combustion duct comprises a hot side, which is exposed to combustion gases and, opposing the hot side, a cold side. The system may include: an indicator coating disposed on the cold side of the combustion duct; and a proximity sensor positioned in proximity to the combustion duct and configured to detect a distance between the position of the proximity sensor and the cold side of the combustion duct.

Abstract: A system for detecting defects in a combustion duct of a combustion system of a combustion turbine engine while the combustion turbine engine operates, wherein the combustion duct comprises a hot side, which is exposed to combustion gases and, opposing the hot side, a cold side. The system may include: an indicator coating disposed on an outer surface of the combustion duct, the indicator coating comprising a detectable substance; and a gas sensor positioned downstream of the combustor, the gas sensor configured to take a measurement of the amount of the detectable substance in the combustion products of the combustion turbine engine.

Abstract: A method of weld repairing an air-cooled aft frame of a transition piece of a gas turbine engine. The transition piece has an interior surface coated with a ceramic coating. The aft frame has a surface with cooling holes therein and from which cracks have propagated. The method includes removing the transition piece from the engine and, without removing the ceramic coating or the aft frame from the transition piece, weld repairing the cracks by performing a laser beam welding technique that deposits a filler material on the surface but does not close the cooling holes in the surface. The surface of the aft frame can be machined to remove excess filler material prior to re-installing the transition piece in a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for in situ repair of a turbine part is provided. The method includes the steps of accessing the turbine part while assembled to other turbine components, wherein the turbine part comprises a region with a structural flaw near a hole in the turbine part, wherein the hole is configured to flow a cooling fluid and welding the structural flaw without performing a heat treatment of the turbine part, wherein welding the structural flaw comprises laser welding that maintains a structure of the region.

Abstract: A system for detecting defects in a combustion duct of a combustion system of a combustion turbine engine while the combustion turbine engine operates, wherein the combustion duct comprises a hot side, which is exposed to combustion gases and, opposing the hot side, a cold side. In one embodiment, the system comprises: a photodetector aimed at the cold side of the combustion duct, the photodetector being configured to detect a visible change to the cold side of the combustion duct.