Abstract: The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section downstream from the compressor section and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. The turbine section includes a rotor shaft, a plurality of turbine blades, and a plurality of discs coupling corresponding ones of the plurality of turbine blades to the rotor shaft. Each disc has a plurality of disc cooling fluid passages therein associated with cooling the turbine blades, and a respective thermal shape memory sleeve is in at least some of the disc cooling fluid passages. The thermal shape memory sleeve defines a sleeve throat opening that changes based upon a temperature to adjust a flow of cooling fluid therethrough. Part load efficiency may be increased by supplying only the needed cooling fluid to areas of the blades.

Abstract: An airfoil structure, shim and retention member combination is provided. The combination comprises an airfoil structure, a retention member and a shim. The airfoil structure may comprise a first recess. The retention member may comprising a second recess. The first and second recesses may define a cavity. The shim may comprise a main body and a plurality of first fins extending outwardly from a first side of the main body. The first fins may further extend transverse to a longitudinal axis of the main body. The shim may be positioned in the cavity such that the first fins extend in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Abstract: A remote-controlled dynamoelectric machine maintenance vehicle that can fit and travel within the air gap between a stator and rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. The maintenance vehicle has an effectuator that can remotely attach to an adjustable wedge within a coil slot of the stator and tighten the wedge in position and then move on to repeat the process until all the wedges on the stator are secured.

Abstract: A method of joining a first part together with a second part is disclosed. The method may comprise providing a first part having a first joining portion including a first channel and a second part having a second joining portion including a second channel. The method may further comprise positioning the first part adjacent to the second part such that the first channel and second channel align with one another to define a cavity. The method may still further comprise preparing a mixture comprising at least one of a metal powder and a polymer binder, placing the mixture into the cavity so as to form a preform and solidifying the preform forming a metal element in the cavity.

Abstract: A process for producing a stable high-temperature catalyst for reduction of nitrogen oxides in combustion exhaust gases at operating temperatures from 300° C. to over 700° C. without the need for exhaust dilution. A zeolite material is steam-treated at a temperature and duration sufficient to partially de-aluminize the zeolite to approximately a steady state, but not sufficient to fully collapse its chemical structure. Iron is added to the zeolite material. The zeolite material is calcined at a temperature, humidity, and duration sufficient to stabilize the zeolite material. Examples and specifications for ranges, order, and durations of steaming, calcining, and other steps are provided.

Abstract: A method of creating a complex three-dimensional object by assembling a plurality of prefabricated elements in a predetermined arrangement and coupling the elements together into an integral three-dimensional object is disclosed.

Abstract: The turbine includes a plurality of successive stages each having a rotatable disk and blades carried thereby. A pair of adjacent rotatable disks define an annular gap therebetween and have respective opposing sealing band receiving slots aligned with the annular gap. At least one of the rotatable disks has at least one notch therein coupled to the respective sealing band receiving slot, and a sealing band is in the opposing sealing band receiving slots to seal the corresponding annular gap. The sealing band includes at least one sealing strip and at least one movable locking tang carried thereby and extending into the at least one notch to define an anti-rotational feature for the sealing band.

Abstract: A method of making a combustion turbine component includes assembling a plurality of metallic combustion turbine subcomponent greenbodies together to form a metallic greenbody assembly and sintering the metallic greenbody assembly to thereby form the combustion turbine component. Each of the plurality of metallic combustion turbine subcomponent greenbodies may be formed by direct metal fabrication (DMF). In addition, each of plurality of metallic combustion turbine subcomponent greenbodies may include an activatable binder and the activatable binder may be activated prior to sintering.

Abstract: A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine having an outer wall of nonuniform thickness. The turbine vane may be formed from a generally elongated airfoil formed from an outer wall having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, a suction side, a first endwall at a first end, a second endwall at a second end opposite the first end, and an internal cooling system positioned internally of the outer wall. The outer wall may be formed of a non-uniform thickness such that aspects of the outer wall positioned between an outboardmost portion of the outer wall and an inboardmost portion of the outer wall are thinner than the outboardmost and inboardmost portions of the outer wall.

Abstract: A cooling system for a turbine airfoil of a turbine engine having a trailing edge cooling slot positioned within the generally elongated, hollow airfoil and extending from the trailing edge chordwise into the generally elongated, hollow airfoil toward the leading edge such that a secondary trailing edge is offset upstream from the trailing edge. As such, the trailing edge cooling slot reduces stress formation at the trailing edge of the turbine airfoil.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustion system for a turbine engine is disclosed. The gas turbine combustion system may include a plurality of combustor baskets positioned circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the turbine engine, at least one firing nozzle extending into each of the plurality of combustor baskets and a fuel delivery system in communication with each of the at least one firing nozzles and in communication with at least one fuel source. Each combustor basket may include a fuel flow control device of the fuel delivery system inline with each of the at least one firing nozzles in that combustor basket such that fuel flow to some of the combustor baskets can be shut off while fuel flow to firing nozzles in other combustor baskets remains unobstructed, thereby permitting some combustor baskets to remain non-fired while other combustor baskets are firing to reduce CO emissions.

Abstract: A turbine blade for a turbine engine having a cooling system in the turbine blade including a camber-line rib extending radially outward from a tip of the blade and extending from a trailing edge of the blade toward a leading edge. The camber-line rib may form pressure and suction side cooling slots at the tip of the blade. The camber-line rib my include a cooling channel positioned in the camber-line rib and in fluid communication with the at least one cavity forming the cooling system in the blade for cooling aspects of the tip at the trailing edge.

Abstract: A telemetry system for use in a combustion turbine engine (10) having a compressor (12), a combustor and a turbine (16) that includes a sensor (50, 74) in connection with a turbine blade (18) or vane (22). A telemetry transmitter circuit (210) may be affixed to the turbine blade (18) with a first connecting material (52, 152) deposited on the turbine blade (18) for routing electronic data signals from the sensor (50, 74) to the telemetry transmitter circuit (210), the electronic data signals indicative of a condition of the turbine blade (18). An induction power system for powering the telemetry transmitter circuit (210) may include a rotating data antenna (202) affixed to the turbine blade (18) with a second connecting material (140) deposited on the turbine blade (18) for routing electronic data signals from the telemetry transmitter circuit (210) to the rotating data antenna (202).

Abstract: A turbine blade for a turbine engine having a cooling system in the turbine blade formed from at least one elongated tip cooling chamber forming a portion of the cooling system and at least partially defined by the tip wall proximate to the first end. An inner surface of the tip wall may include a plurality of curved bumper protrusions extending from the inner surface radially inward toward the root. The cooling system may include a plurality of ribs generally aligned with the trailing edge, and the curved bumper protrusions may be offset in a chordwise direction relative to the ribs. A throat section may extend between a first forwardmost curved bumper protrusion and a second immediately adjacent downstream curved bumper protrusion and may be offset radially outward from an inner tip surface, thereby creating a first recessed tip slot with a reduced tip wall thickness.

Abstract: A bimetallic bond layer (26, 28) for a thermal barrier coating or TBC (30) on a superalloy substrate (22) for a high temperature environment. An interlayer (26) is applied on the substrate. A bond coat (28) comprising a CoNiCrAlY or NiCoCrAlY alloy is applied on the interlayer. A ceramic TBC (30) such as 8YSZ is applied on the bond coat. The interlayer (26) is an alloy that is compatible with the substrate and the bond coat, and that blocks or delays diffusion of aluminum from the bond coat into the substrate at high operating temperatures. This preserves aluminum in the bond coat that maintains a beneficial alumina scale (29) between the bond coat and the TBC. This delays spalling of the TBC, and lengthens the coating and component life.

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 method of measuring vibration in a bladed rotor structure with a vibration monitor. The vibration monitor includes a sensor for sensing passage of the sensor targets on radially outer portions of the blade structure, and the sensor generates signals corresponding to target passing events. An excitation structure is provided including at least one air jet for providing an excitation force to the blade structure. The blade structure is rotated about an axis of rotation and the air jet is driven in a circular path about the axis of rotation at a different rotational speed to apply a non-synchronous excitation force to the blade structure.

Abstract: A combustor assembly is provided comprising a combustor casing; a liner coupled to the combustor casing; a burner assembly coupled to the combustor casing; and at least one resonator assembly. The resonator assembly comprises a resonator outer plate having at least one opening, a resonator side wall coupled to the resonator outer plate, and a resonator inner plate defined by a portion of the liner. The resonator inner plate is coupled to the resonator side wall and has at least one slot formed therein having an aspect ratio of at least 4:1.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a combustor (28) for a gas turbine engine is provided comprising a primary combustion chamber (30) for combusting a first fuel to form a combustion flow stream (50) and a transition piece (32) located downstream from the primary combustion chamber (30). The transition piece (32) comprises a plurality of injectors (66) located around a circumference of the transition piece (32) for injecting a second fuel into the combustion flow stream (50). The injectors (66) are effective to create a radial temperature profile (74) at an exit (58) of the transition piece (32) having a reduced coefficient of variation relative to a radial temperature profile (64) at an inlet (54) of the transition piece (32). Methods for controlling the temperature profile of a secondary injection are also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing a protective layer (38) on a surface of the substrate (36) that requires a bonding temperature (BT) above a detrimental phase transformation temperature range (28) of the substrate, and then cooling the layer and substrate without cracking the layer or detrimentally transforming the substrate. The protective layer (38) and the substrate (36) are cooled from the bonding temperature (BT) to a temperature (46) above the detrimental phase transformation range (28) at a first cooling rate (30) slow enough to avoid cracking the protective layer. Next, the protective layer and the substrate are cooled to a temperature below the detrimental phase transformation range of the substrate at a second cooling rate (27) fast enough to pass the detrimental phase transformation range before a substantial transformation of the substrate into the detrimental phase can occur.