Abstract: An apparatus configured to support a diffuser segment during removal from and installation into an assembly. The apparatus includes a body having two or more supports and at least two clamp rods. The clamp rods each extend from a first end to a second end. The body defines a pocket extending between the supports on a first side of the clamp rods. An end clamp releasably mates with the second end of each clamp rod. The end clamp has a foot extending into the first side of the clamp rod. A wheel is received within each support. The pocket and the foot of each end clamp releasably retain a diffuser segment and the wheels rotate to allow the diffuser segment to be removed without damaging a surface coating of the diffuser segment.

Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine having a turbine shaft disposed along a rotational axis, a turbine casing disposed circumferentially about the turbine shaft, a combustion gas path disposed between the turbine shaft and the turbine casing, and a turbine stage disposed in the combustion gas path. The turbine stage includes a plurality of turbine vanes disposed upstream from a plurality of turbine blades. The gas turbine includes an isothermal expansion system coupled to the turbine stage, wherein the isothermal expansion system includes a plurality of flame stabilizers configured to vary axial positions of combustion within a turbine stage expansion of the turbine stage to reduce temperature variations over the turbine stage expansion. The flame stabilizers are disposed in different axial positions over an axial length between leading and trailing edges of the turbine blades, wherein at least one flame stabilizer is coupled to each of the turbine blades.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes an additive printing device having a central frame structure with a platform and an arm member. The arm member is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tower structure. The additive printing device also includes a plurality of robotic arms secured to the arm member of the central frame structure. Each of the robotic arms includes a printer head for additively printing one or more materials. The additive printing device further includes at least one nozzle configured for dispensing a cementitious material. Moreover, the system includes one or more molds additively printed via the additive printing device of a polymer material. As such, the mold(s) define inner and outer wall limits of the tower structure.

Abstract: An additive printing device and a method for using the same to manufacture a tower structure of a wind turbine is provided. The additive printing device includes a vertical support structure, a support ring suspended from the vertical support structure, and a printer head movably coupled to the support ring for selectively depositing cementitious material. A drive mechanism, such as a rack and pinion, moves the printer head around the support ring while selectively depositing cementitious material. The vertical support structure may be raised and/or the relative position between the vertical support structure and the printer head may be adjusted to raise the printer head to print subsequent layers. This process may be repeated to print the tower structure layer-by-layer from the ground up.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a blade component of rotor blade of a wind turbine includes providing a plurality of pultrusions constructed of one or more fibers or fiber bundles cured together via a resin material. The method also includes placing a protective cap over at least one end of one or more of the plurality of pultrusions. Further, the method includes heat treating a surface of the plurality of pultrusions while the protective cap remains over the at least one end. Moreover, the method includes removing the protective cap from the at least one end. The method further includes arranging the plurality of pultrusions in a mold of the blade component. In addition, the method includes infusing the plurality of pultrusions together so as to form the rotor blade component.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes printing, via an additive printing device, the tower structure of the wind turbine of a cementitious material. The method also includes printing, via the additive printing device, one or more additional airflow modifying features on an outer surface the tower structure of the wind turbine so as to reduce and/or prevent vortex shedding, excitation, and/or drag of the tower structure. Further, the method includes curing the cementitious material so as to form the tower structure.

Abstract: A turbomachine component has a wall outer surface and an internal coolant source. A film-cooling hole is in the wall and extends from the internal coolant source to the wall outer surface. The film-cooling hole includes a metering section in fluid communication with the internal coolant source, and a diffuser section in fluid communication with the metering section and including a first internal surface spaced from a second internal surface. A coating collector receives part of a coating and is part of the diffuser section. The film-cooling hole also includes a hood section including a member extending outwardly from the wall outer surface. The member may include a hood internal surface contiguous with the first internal surface of the diffuser section and a hood outer surface parallel to the wall outer surface. The hood section reduces, and possibly prevents, the coating from filling the film-cooling hole during application thereof.

Abstract: A system and process for restarting a turbomachine includes a shutdown cooldown protection process implemented by a plant level control system or direct control system of the turbomachine. The system and process for restarting ensure rotating components are cooled as expected prior to a unit restart. This system and process for restarting will lockout an ability to restart if an improper cooldown of rotating components is detected. If this lockout is enabled, delaying restart for the rotating components to cool naturally is needed, or the operator could decide to force cool the components.

Abstract: A rotor lock assembly for locking a rotor of a wind turbine. The rotor lock assembly has at least one relocatable rotor lock. The relocatable rotor lock has a housing, a bushing element, a pin shaft position within the bushing element, and a locking mechanism. The housing includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting to a bearing housing adjacent to a rotor lock plate of the rotor.

Abstract: An oil supply system includes a first oil receptacle collecting oil from a transmission and a second oil receptacle collecting oil from the rest of a drive system using gravity. Oil supply pump(s) supply oil from the oil receptacle(s) to the different consumers. A vacuum pump generates a negative pressure in the first oil receptacle and in the transmission casing connected to the first oil receptacle. A gas check valve prevents gas from flowing between the oil receptacles when a pressure differential is applied to the oil receptacles by the vacuum pump. An oil check valve prevents oil from flowing between the oil receptacles when the pressure differential is applied. An oil regulating valve may control the oil flow between the first and second oil receptacles. The oil supply system provides a simpler configuration without scavenging pump(s).

Abstract: A vapor separation system including a cooler having an inlet configured to receive an air-oil-water mixture, and an outlet configured to discharge separated oil and water in two different phases of matter. A first sensor is at the outlet of the cooler. A controller is communicatively coupled to the cooler, wherein the controller is configured to receive temperature feedback from the first sensor, and increase or reduce the amount of cooling, with the cooler and based on the temperature feedback, the oil-water mixture to a separation temperature configured to liquefy at least a portion of the oil in the air-oil-water mixture, while maintaining at least a portion of the water in the air-oil-water mixture in a vaporized state.

Abstract: A sensor system for a turbomachine having an axis is disclosed. The sensor system includes a mounting member including a body configured to be mounted to only a circumferential portion of a circumferential interior surface of a casing of the turbomachine. A plurality of sensors are coupled to the mounting member and configured to measure an operational parameter of the turbomachine.

Abstract: A stator vane includes a platform that defines an opening. The stator vane further includes an airfoil that has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side wall, and a pressure side wall. The airfoil extends radially between a base and a tip. At least one of the base or the tip includes a protrusion. The protrusion extends into the opening of the platform such that the platform surrounds the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a braze joint disposed between and fixedly coupling the platform and the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a cooling circuit defined in at least one of the protrusion or the platform to cool the braze joint.

Abstract: A mounting tool includes a base component and an attachment means. The base component includes a mounting portion defining an attachment location for receiving and securing a repair tool so as to maintain the repair tool at a desired repair location and a first receiving portion defining a first cavity for receiving a portion of a wind turbine so as to be externally secured to the wind turbine. The attachment means may be adjustably secured to the first receiving portion of the base component and securable to the portion of the wind turbine so as to secure the mounting tool to the wind turbine at the desirable repair location.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a turbine blade having an airfoil with a tip shroud having a forwardmost tip rail having one or more pressure side and suction side bevel surfaces and pressure side and suction side scallop surfaces. The surfaces have a nominal profile substantially in accordance Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in various tables herein. The Cartesian coordinate values are non-dimensional values of from 0% to 100% convertible to distances by multiplying the values by a tip rail length expressed in units of distance. The X, Y and Z values are connected by smooth continuing arcs that are joined smoothly with one another to form the nominal profile that defines the suction side scallop surface, the pressure side scallop surface, the suction side bevel surface, or the pressure side bevel surface.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a forward end wall and an aft end wall. The fuel injector further includes side walls that extend between the forward end wall and the aft end wall. The forward end wall, the aft end wall, and the side walls collectively define an opening for passage of air. At least one fuel injection member is disposed within the opening and extends between the end walls. A fuel circuit is defined within the fuel injector. The fuel circuit includes an inlet plenum defined within the forward end wall of the fuel injector. The fuel circuit further includes a fuel passage that extends from, and is in fluid communication with, the inlet plenum. The fuel passage is defined within the at least one fuel injection member. The fuel passage has a cross-sectional area that varies along a length of the fuel injection member.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for manufacturing a tower structure. Accordingly, one or more layers of a wall element are deposited with a printhead assembly. At least one recess is defined in the wall element. The recess(es) has a single, circumferential opening positioned along an inner reference curve or an outer reference curve of the wall element. The recess(es) also has a depth which extends in a radial direction and intersects a midline reference curve. A reinforcing element is placed entirely within the recess(es) at the midline reference curve.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting a fuel leak are provided. A method of detecting a fuel leak within a turbomachine combustor includes a step of monitoring, by a controller, a sensor output from a particulate matter sensor positioned on a component within the combustor. The sensor output includes one of a fault state sensor output or a non-fault state sensor output. The method further includes receiving, with the controller, the fault state sensor output from the particulate matter sensor when a fuel leak is present within the combustor.

Abstract: A turbomachine component is provided. The turbomachine component formed from an additive manufacturing system. The additive manufacturing system defines an axial build direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The turbomachine component includes an exterior portion. The exterior portion includes a first end wall, a second end wall, and an outer band extending axially between the first end wall and the second end wall. The turbomachine component further includes an interior portion disposed within the exterior portion. The interior portion includes a self-breaking inner band extending axially between the first end wall and the second end wall. The self-breaking inner band includes a plurality of teeth disposed between the first end wall and the second end wall.

Abstract: A method includes applying a material coating on a surface of a machine component using a thermal spray, wherein the material coating is formed from a combination of a hardfacing material and aluminum-containing particles. The method also includes thermally treating the material coating to generate an oxide layer comprising aluminum from the aluminum-containing particles, wherein the oxide layer is configured to reduce oxidation of the hardfacing material.