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 method and apparatus for monitoring vibrations in a blade structure of a turbine including generating signals from a probe located adjacent to a radial outer edge of the blade structure to provide signals corresponding to vibrations at predetermined locations along the tips of the blades. A leading edge of a blade tip is detected during a blade tracking operation, and a known location along the length of the blade tips is monitored during a vibration measurement operation. The measurement operation may be performed simultaneously with the tracking operation to provide measurements as the axial location of the blades change during transitional modes of operation of the turbine.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for forming an insulated rotor conductor by bonding an insulating material onto a single side of a flat electrical conductor under controlled heat and mechanical pressure. The rotor conductor is suitable for assembly into the rotor assembly of a rotating electrical machine such as an alternating current generator. The apparatus includes modules to facilitate easy relocation within a manufacturing environment and to make efficient use of available manufacturing space. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanical interface for relieving stress between an outer layer and an inner insulating layer in a layered insulating tape structure surrounding an electrical conductor. The interface tape includes a porous non-woven carrier having opposing sides including a release region located at a first side and a non-release region located at an opposite second side. The release region is treated with a release material for substantially inhibiting adhesion between the first side and an adjacent outer surface. The non-release region is untreated by the release material for substantially facilitating adhesion between the second side and an adjacent inner surface.

Abstract: A method of monitoring vibrations in a blade structure of a turbine including generating signals from a sensor located adjacent to a radial outer edge of the blade structure to sense passage of targets located on the blade structure. The sensor is mounted eccentrically and the signals are obtained with the sensor located at different angular positions. In a first aspect of the invention, the signals from the sensor are used to determine a target slope angle of a target on a first turbine blade during operation of the turbine. In a second aspect of the invention, the signals from the sensor are used to position the sensor in response to a sensed variation in the axial position of the target on the first turbine blade.

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 solid oxide fuel cell generator is provided for electrochemically reacting a fuel gas with a flowing oxidant gas at an elevated temperature to produce power. The generator includes a generator section receiving a fuel gas and a plurality of elongated fuel cells extending through the generator section and having opposing open fuel cell ends for directing an oxidant gas between opposing plena in the generator. A sealant defines a seal on the fuel cells adjacent at least one of the fuel cell ends. The sealant is a modified lanthanum borate aluminosilicate glass composition having a minimal amount of boron oxide and silica, and in which the sealant maintains substantially constant physical characteristics throughout multiple thermal cycles.

Abstract: A method of matching sensors in a multi-probe blade vibration monitor for a turbine. The method includes providing at least two probes mounted in a casing of the turbine adjacent to a rotating blade structure of the turbine. Targets are provided on radially outer portions of the blade structure. Each of the probes includes a sensor generating signals corresponding to target passing events, and a set of synchronous harmonics of the rotational speed of the rotor are produced for each sensor. The position of the sensors is adjusted such that the sets of harmonics of the sensors are substantially matched, indicating that the positions of the sensors are matched.

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: Introducing a plurality of geometrically shaped members (27) into a cooling passage (16) of a gas turbine airfoil (10) will effectively reduce the cross-sectional flow area while simultaneously retaining a sufficiently thick external contour desired for proper gas path aerodynamic behavior. Small cooling sub-passages (18a, 18b) formed around the geometric members will create a preferentially higher coolant flow rate and heat transfer coefficient at the cooled surface (14) when compared to the interior of the cavity. The geometric shapes may be metal or ceramic spheres retained in the cooling cavity by a retaining structure such as a screen grid (30) or perforated plate (32). The openings (34) in the retaining structure may be unevenly distributed to preferentially allow more coolant to enter the cavity proximate the cooled walls. The size/shape of the geometrically shaped members may be varied to achieve a desired heat transfer coefficient along the cooled wall surface (17).

Abstract: A ceramic coating for imparting one or more of a variety of functional characteristics (e.g., reducing vibration levels) to one or more components or portions of an engine (e.g., ring segments, transition ducts, combustors, blades, vanes and shrouds of a turbine engine, portions thereof, and portions of a diesel engine), the components or portions comprising such a coating, and methods of making same. The ceramic coating exhibits a gradient or other change in the functional characteristic(s) through the thickness of the coating, across the surface area of the coating or both.

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 ceramic hybrid structure (207, 502, 602, 608) that includes a wavy ceramic matrix composite (CMC) wall (214, 532, 603, 609) bonded with a ceramic insulating layer (230, 538, 604, 610) having a distal surface (242) that may define a hot gas passage (250, 550, 650) or otherwise be in proximity to a source of elevated temperature. In various embodiments, the waves (216, 537, 637) of the CMC wall (214, 532, 603, 609) may conform to the following parameters: a thickness (222) between 1 and 10 millimeters; an amplitude (224) between one and 2.5 times the thickness; and a period (226) between one and 20 times the amplitude. The uninsulated backside surface (218) of the CMC wall (214) provides a desired stiffness and strength and enhanced cooling surface area. In various embodiments the amplitude (224), excluding the thickness (222), may be at least 2 mm.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustion system is provided comprising a combustion chamber (16) having a central axis (44), a primary combustion stage (28) located at a front end (32) of the combustion chamber (16) for injecting fuel, air, or mixtures thereof substantially along the central axis (44), a plurality of secondary combustion stages (30A-D) spaced apart in flow series along a length of the combustion chamber (16), wherein each of the plurality of secondary combustion stages (30A-D) comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced secondary injectors (48) for injecting fuel, air, or mixtures thereof, toward the central axis (44), and wherein an internal diameter of the combustion chamber (16) decreases from at least a first one of the plurality of secondary combustion stages (30A-D) to at least a second one of the plurality of secondary combustion stages (30A-D).

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 method of imparting one or more of a variety of functional characteristic to a portion of an engine (e.g., a turbine or diesel engine) by depositing particles from different particle feedstocks so as to form a high temperature resistant coating on a surface of the engine portion, where the particle feedstocks are varied in-situ while the particle are being deposited and at least one functional characteristic corresponds to, or results from, using different particle feedstocks.

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 iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), at least one of titanium (Ti) and molybdenum (Mo), at least one rare earth element, and an oxide of the at least one rare earth element.

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: An airfoil is provided for a gas turbine engine. The airfoil may comprise a main body comprising a leading edge having a leading edge outer surface, a trailing edge having a trailing edge outer surface, a suction side having a suction side outer surface and a pressure side having a pressure side outer surface. The main body may further comprise at least one interior cooling passage and a plurality of cooling holes extending from the cooling passage to at least one of the leading edge outer surface, the trailing edge outer surface, the suction side outer surface and the pressure side outer surface. Preferably, at least one of the cooling holes includes a proximal metering section having a first dimension extending transverse to an axis extending in a flow direction of a cooling fluid passing through the one cooling hole, a flared section and an exit opening having a second dimension transverse to the axis which is larger than the first dimension.

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 nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), and yttrium (Y). Furthermore, the alloy coating includes at least one of titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re). The alloy coating also includes at least one rare earth element, and an oxide of at least one of the yttrium (Y) and the at least one rare earth element.