Abstract: Systems and devices configured to cool turbine components in a turbine by passing a cooling flow through the turbine component via a cooling passage with a variable diameter are disclosed. In one embodiment, a turbine component includes: at least one elongated cooling passage extending from a root of the bucket to a tip of the bucket, wherein the elongated cooling passage has a variable diameter along a length of the bucket.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a turbine system includes a bucket having an outer tip and at least one bucket ridge extending radially outwardly from the outer tip, the at least one bucket ridge comprising an abradable material. Also included is a stationary shroud disposed radially outwardly from the outer tip of the bucket. Further included is at least one shroud ridge extending radially inwardly from the stationary shroud toward the outer tip of the bucket, the at least one shroud ridge comprising the abradable material.

Abstract: A rotor blade includes an airfoil having a tip plate that extends across an outer radial end. A rim extends radially outward from the tip plate and surrounds at least a portion of the airfoil and includes a concave portion opposed to a convex portion. A plurality of dividers extend between the concave and convex portions to define a plurality of pockets between the concave and convex portions at the outer radial end. A plurality of cooling passages through the tip plate provide fluid communication through the tip plate to the plurality of pockets. A first fluid passage in at least one divider provides fluid communication between adjacent pockets across the at least one divider.

Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root. The platform may include a pressure side slashface and a suction side slashface. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a cooling channel formed within the interior of the platform, the cooling channel extending from a first end toward one of the pressure side slashface and the suction side slashface. At a second end, the cooling channel may include a pocket. The pocket may include an abrupt increase in cross-sectional flow area just before the cooling channel reaches the slashface.

Abstract: A turbine bucket includes an airfoil, a platform adjacent to the airfoil, and a shank adjacent to the platform. The shank defines a shank cavity, and a divider in the shank cavity creates a pressure differential across the shank cavity. A method for cooling a turbine bucket includes directing a fluid to a forward shank cavity and creating a pressure differential between the forward shank cavity and an aft shank cavity.

Abstract: A turbine bucket having an airfoil is disclosed. The airfoil may include a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In addition, the airfoil may include a tip. The tip may include a tip floor and a tip wall extending outwardly from the tip floor. The tip wall may include an inner surface defining an inner perimeter of the tip wall. Moreover, a plurality of notches may be defined by the inner surface around at least a portion of the inner perimeter.

Abstract: A turbine bucket having an airfoil is disclosed. The airfoil may include a pressure side wall and a suction side wall extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In addition, the airfoil may include a base and a tip disposed opposite the base. The tip may include a tip floor and pressure and suction side tip walls extending outwardly from the tip floor. Moreover, the tip may include an intermediate tip wall extending outwardly from the tip floor between the pressure and suction side tip walls. The intermediate tip wall may define a height that is less than a height of the pressure and/or suction side tip walls.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade used in a gas turbine engine, which includes an airfoil having a tip at an outer radial edge, is described. The airfoil includes a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall that join together at a leading edge and a trailing edge of the airfoil, the pressure sidewall and the suction sidewall extending from a root to the tip. The tip includes a tip plate and, disposed along a periphery of the tip plate, a rail. The rail includes a microchannel connected to a coolant source.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade for a gas turbine engine is described. The turbine rotor blade includes an airfoil that includes a tip at an outer radial end. The tip includes a rail that defines a tip cavity; and the rail includes a circumscribing rail microchannel. The circumscribing rail microchannel is a microchannel that extends around at least a majority of the length of the inner rail surface.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes a blade having a leading and trailing edges and an internal cooling circuit, and a plurality of film holes extending between the internal cooling circuit and an exterior of the blade. The plurality of film holes are shaped to generate a swirling flow exiting the film holes adjacent the leading edge to thereby enhance local convection and provide an insulating barrier to gaspath flow.

Abstract: A spline seal for a hot gas path component is provided. The spline seal may include a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer may have a first volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The second metal layer may be disposed adjacent the first metal layer and have a second volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The second volumetric thermal expansion coefficient may be higher than the first volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. When the spline seal is exposed to a heat source, the first and second metal layers may deform to provide a seal between the hot gas path component and an adjacent hot gas path component.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a seal that may substantially reduce cross-shank leakage between components mounted on a shaft. Embodiments of the seal may be connected to a wide variety of rotatable components including, but not limited to, compressor blades, turbine buckets, or the like.

Abstract: A turbine bucket includes an airfoil, a platform adjacent to the airfoil, and a shank adjacent to the platform. The shank defines a shank cavity, and a divider in the shank cavity creates a pressure differential across the shank cavity. A method for cooling a turbine bucket includes directing a fluid to a forward shank cavity and creating a pressure differential between the forward shank cavity and an aft shank cavity.

Abstract: A spline seal for a hot gas path component is provided. The spline seal may include a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer may have a first volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The second metal layer may be disposed adjacent the first metal layer and have a second volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The second volumetric thermal expansion coefficient may be higher than the first volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. When the spline seal is exposed to a heat source, the first and second metal layers may deform to provide a seal between the hot gas path component and an adjacent hot gas path component.

Abstract: A turbine blade is provided. The turbine blade includes a blade platform having an airfoil portion and a root portion extending therefrom, an undercut formed in a first side of the platform and a purge slot formed in a second side of the platform.

Abstract: First stage turbine buckets have internal core profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define internal core profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete internal core profile. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down internal core profile. The nominal internal core profile given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of ±0.050 inches in directions normal to any internal core surface location.

Abstract: First stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of ±0.055 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: First stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of ±0.055 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.