Abstract: A method of making a combustion turbine component includes forming a nanosized powder including a plurality of metals and at least one rare-earth element and agglomerating the nanosized powder to form a microsized powder including a plurality of metals and at least one rare-earth element. The microsized powder is processed to form a cohesive metallic mass and a primary aging heat treating is performed on the cohesive metallic mass. A solution heat treating may be performed on the cohesive metallic mass prior to the primary aging heat treating. A secondary aging treating may be performed on the cohesive metallic mass after the primary aging treating.

Abstract: A method of making a composite blade that is attachable to a rotating shaft using a conventional metal blade attachment. A blade is formed from a composite material with a blade root at one end thereof. A metallic member having an external shape conforming to a conventional metal blade root is shaped with an interior cavity having an opening for receipt of the blade root. Before the composite material is fully cured, a bladder is formed into or is inserted into an end of the blade root and inflated, thereby forcing the composite material into intimate contact with the interior cavity of the metallic member, thereby ensuring a fret-free interface upon final curing of the composite material. The interior cavity of the metallic member may be shaped or surfaced to improve the load carrying capability there between.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling delivery of fuel to a dual stage nozzle in the combustor of a gas turbine. A liquid fuel is conveyed from a single stage fuel supply through a plurality of primary fuel supply lines to a first nozzle stage including a plurality of primary nozzles. A predetermined operating condition of the gas turbine is identified and a signal is produced in response to the identified operating condition. The signal effects actuation of valves located on secondary fuel supply lines extending from each of the primary fuel supply lines to supply fuel to respective secondary nozzles.

Abstract: Protective insert plates (54, 56) installed on a working gas face (42) of a turbine vane platform (26) provide replaceable portions of a turbine shroud for improved maintenance. The plates act as tiles, and may be formed of ceramic materials for thermal protection. Two cages (58, 60) in the vane platform slidably receive the two insert plates (54, 56) from opposite circumferential sides (36, 38) of the platform. The plates slide into the cages up to the pressure and suction sides (32, 34) of the vane airfoil (22). The plates may have proximal edges (62, 64) shaped to fit the respective pressure and suction sides of the vane airfoil. A retainer plate 66 may be attached to a flange (72) on the cooled face (48) of each platform, and may contact each insert plate with a locking device (74, 76) to prevent sliding of the plate in the cage.

Abstract: A circuit assembly (34) resistant to high-temperature and high g centrifugal force is disclosed. A printed circuit board (42) is first fabricated from alumina and has conductive traces of said circuit formed thereon by the use of a thick film gold paste. Active and passive components of the circuit assembly are attached to the printed circuit board by means of gold powder diffused under high temperature. Gold wire is used for bonding between the circuit traces and the active components in order to complete the circuit assembly (34). Also, a method for manufacturing a circuit assembly resistant to elevated temperature is disclosed.

Abstract: A circuit assembly (34) affixed to a moving part (20) of a turbine for receiving information about a condition of the part and transmitting this information external to the engine. The circuit assembly includes a high-temperature resistant package (34A) that attaches to the part. A high temperature resistant PC board (42) supports both active and passive components of the circuit, wherein a first group of the passive components are fabricated with zero temperature coefficient of resistance and a second group of the passive components are fabricated with a positive temperature coefficient of resistance. The active components are fabricated with high temperature metallization. Connectors (40) attached to the PC board pass through a wall of the package (34A) for communication with sensors (30) on the part and with an antenna (26) for transmitting data about the condition of the part to outside the turbine.

Abstract: A circuit affixed to a moving part of an engine for sensing and processing the temperature of the part. The circuit generates a signal representative of the temperature sensed by a thermocouple (110) and amplified by an amplifier (112). A square wave oscillator (113) with a temperature sensitive capacitor (C8) varies its frequency in response to changes of a local temperature of the circuit. A chopper (114, J27) converts the output of the amplifier into an alternating current signal. The chopper is gated by the square wave oscillator and a second input is coupled to an output of the amplifier. Thus, the chopper has an output signal having a frequency representative of the local temperature and an amplitude representative of the thermocouple temperature, whereby the combined signals represent the true temperature of the part.

Abstract: In a telemetry system for use in an engine, a circuit structure (34) affixed to a moving part (20) of the engine is disposed for amplifying information sensed about a condition of the part and transmitting the sensed information to a receiver external to the engine. The circuit structure is adapted for the high temperature environment of the engine and includes a differential amplifier (102, 111) having an input for receiving a signal from a sensor (101, 110) disposed on the part. A voltage controlled oscillator (104, 115) with an input coupled to the output of the amplifier produces an oscillatory signal having a frequency representative of the sensed condition. A buffer (105, 116) with an input coupled to the output of the oscillator buffers the oscillatory signal, which is then coupled to an antenna (26) for transmitting the information to the receiver.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for use in a turbine engine having a combustion section and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. The fuel injector assembly includes a flow sleeve defining a pre-mixing passage of the combustion section and including a sleeve wall having a forward end proximate to a cover plate of the combustion section and an opposed aft end. An annular cavity in fluid communication with a source of fuel is formed in the sleeve wall adjacent the aft end. A fuel dispensing structure is associated with the cavity and includes at least one fuel distribution aperture for distributing fuel from the cavity to the pre-mixing passage.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermal insulation article may include positioning, between opposing mold walls, a first layer comprising a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material and a second layer comprising a plurality of tiles. The method may further include moving the opposing mold walls together to compress together the first and second layers, and curing the compressed together first and second layers to produce the thermal insulation article.

Abstract: The gas turbine exhaust sound suppressor, or exhaust silencer, and method are for a gas turbine and reduce low frequency exhaust flow noise while avoiding the creation of additional acoustical standing waves, e.g. from wake shedding at certain predictable frequencies. A plurality of elongated flow obstruction members, e.g. pipes or airfoils, extend within the exhaust passage to reduce acoustic waves within the exhaust flow, and at least some of the elongated flow obstruction members have different widths. Each of the elongated flow obstruction members is positioned at a respective angle within a predetermined angular range transverse to the flow direction, with the predetermined angular range being greater than or equal to 10 degrees from normal to the flow direction.

Abstract: A method for making a gas turbine component (100). A central core (20) is positioned to occupy a space that will define a central channel (42), and an outer channel core (30) is positioned spaced apart from the central core (20). A mold (35) is formed around the central core (20) and the outer channel core (30), so that an exterior wall (32) contacts the mold (35). A substrate material, such as a metal alloy (247) in liquid form, is added to the mold (35) to form an internal volume (41) of the component (100). The central core (20) and the outer channel core (30) are removed, and interconnect channels (44) are formed between the thus-formed central channel (42) and the inner portion (49) of the outer channel (62) thus far formed. A preform (55) is placed into the inner portion (49) and may have a desired outer surface (57) shape. An overlay material is applied to form an outer layer (60), thus defining the remainder of the outer channel (62), which is obtained upon removal of the preform (55).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide resonators (260, 460) that have lateral walls (268, 270) disposed at non-square angles relative to the liner's longitudinal (and flow-based) axis (219) such that a film cooling of substantial portions of an intervening strip (244, 444) is provided from apertures (226A, 226B, 426) in a resonator box (262, 462) adjacent and upstream from the intervening strip (244, 444). This film cooling also cools weld seams (280) along the lateral walls (268, 270) of the resonator boxes (262, 462). In various embodiments the lateral wall angles are such that film cooling may be provided to include the most of the downstream portions of the intervening strips (244, 444). These downstream portions are closer to the combustion heat source and therefore expected to be in greater need of cooling.

Abstract: A configuration of seals disposed around and between a plurality of ring segments (10) arrayed annularly about the periphery of moving blades in a gas turbine engine. The seals function to retain coolant in the plenum (18) within each of the ring segments (10). The seals are disposed atop a substrate (16A), which forms the top of the plenum (18). The first seal (25) is made of a piece of sheet material and seals the gap between adjacent ring segments. This seal has an edge (25A) thereof creased for mating with a similar seal on an adjacent ring segment. A second seal (27), which is also made of sheet material, seals the ends of the plenum (18) of the ring segments (10). Lastly, a third seal (29), which is also made of a piece of sheet material, seals the sides of the second seal (27).

Abstract: A hybrid cast component (10) including both a columnar grained region (12) and a single crystal region (14) integrally formed and joined along a metallurgical boundary (32) in a single casting operation without the need for any weld or braze. A gas turbine blade formed as such may include a columnar grained airfoil and a single crystal platform without any necessity for a thermally formed joint at the blade fillet area.

Abstract: A gas turbine ring segment (10) for use in gas turbine engines made from a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material is disclosed. The ring segment includes a stacked multiplicity of CMC thin-sheet lamellae (25a, 25b) each comprising a peripheral surface collectively defining a cross-section profile of the ring segment. The lamellae collectively define a channel (11) formed in the center thereof for receiving a bow-tie member (27). The bow-tie member is disposed in the channel for holding together the stacked lamellae in a through thickness direction, and the in-plane strength of the bow-tie member is perpendicular to the in-plane strength of the lamellae. A stem portion (33) of the assembly may be further secured with a wrap (38) of CMC ribbon.

Abstract: A combustion turbine component (10) includes a combustion turbine component substrate (16) and an alloy coating (14) on the combustion turbine component substrate. The alloy coating (14) includes a first amount, by weight percent, of nickel (Ni) and a second amount, by weight percent, of cobalt (Co), the first amount being greater than the second amount. The alloy coating also includes chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), and yttrium (Y). The alloy coating further includes at least one of titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re). Moreover, the alloy coating includes at least one rare earth element, and an oxide of at least one of the yttrium the at least one rare earth element.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a system consisting of a plurality of components, comprises the steps of collecting maintenance information for each component of the system for which maintenance information is available; providing a maintenance schedule for components of the system; operating the system; and maintaining the system wherein during scheduled maintenance of a component information about the status of that component is acquired, during a failure of a component information about the failure of that component is acquired, and modifying the maintenance schedule according to the acquired information.

Abstract: A combustion turbine component (10) includes a combustion turbine component substrate (16) and an alloy coating (14) on the combustion turbine component substrate. The alloy coating (14) includes a first amount, by weight percent, of cobalt (Co) and a second amount, by weight percent, of nickel (Ni), the first amount being greater than the second amount. The alloy coating further includes chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), at least one rare earth element, and an oxide of the at least one rare earth element.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided comprising an outer shell, a compressor assembly, at least one combustor assembly, a turbine assembly and duct structure. The outer shell includes a compressor section, a combustor section, an intermediate section and a turbine section. The intermediate section includes at least one first opening and at least one second opening. The compressor assembly is located in the compressor section to define with the compressor section a compressor apparatus to compress air. The at least one combustor assembly is coupled to the combustor section to define with the combustor section a combustor apparatus. The turbine assembly is located in the turbine section to define with the turbine section a turbine apparatus.