Abstract: A bucket for use in the low-pressure section of a steam turbine engine is provided. The bucket has a vane length of at least about 52 inches. The bucket is comprised of a dovetail section disposed near an inner radial position of the bucket, a tip shroud disposed near an outer radial position of the bucket and a part span shroud disposed at an intermediate radial position. The intermediate radial position is disposed at a location between the inner and outer radial positions the intermediate radial positioning adapted to promote aerodynamic performance of the part span shroud. The bucket is comprised of a chromium steel.

Abstract: A fixture and method for assembling axial entry buckets with complex geometry to a rotor wheel is provided. The fixture features an inner and an outer split ring shaft clamp, which is bolted together around the rotor wheel packing diameter and provides a mounting base. The transfer ring mounts around and abutting the rotor wheel. The transfer ring includes a circumferential slot to accept bucket-holders. The bucket holders loaded with turbine buckets, inserted onto the transfer ring and moved circumferentially around the transfer ring to align the turbine buckets to slots on the rotor wheel. Pressure is applied to spiral the buckets from the bucket-holders into final position in slots on the rotor wheel.

Abstract: A fixture and method for assembling axial entry buckets with complex geometry to a rotor wheel is provided. The fixture features an inner and an outer split ring shaft clamp, which is bolted together around the rotor wheel packing diameter and provides a mounting base. The transfer ring mounts around and abutting the rotor wheel. The transfer ring includes a circumferential slot to accept bucket-holders. The bucket holders loaded with turbine buckets, inserted onto the transfer ring and moved circumferentially around the transfer ring to align the turbine buckets to slots on the rotor wheel. Pressure is applied to spiral the buckets from the bucket-holders into final position in slots on the rotor wheel.

Abstract: A bucket for use in the low-pressure section of a steam turbine engine is provided. The bucket has a vane length of at least about 52 inches. The bucket is comprised of a dovetail section disposed near an inner radial position of the bucket, a tip shroud disposed near an outer radial position of the bucket and a part span shroud disposed at an intermediate radial position. The intermediate radial position is disposed at a location between the inner and outer radial positions the intermediate radial positioning adapted to promote aerodynamic performance of the part span shroud. The bucket is comprised of a chromium steel.

Abstract: A bucket for use in the low-pressure section of a steam turbine engine is provided. The bucket has a vane length of at least about 45 inches. The bucket is comprised of a dovetail section disposed near an inner radial position of the bucket, a tip shroud disposed near an outer radial position of the bucket and a part span shroud disposed at an intermediate radial position. The intermediate radial position is located between the inner and outer radial positions. The bucket is comprised of a titanium-based alloy having between about 2% and about 6.25% by weight aluminum, up to about 3.5% vanadium, up to about 2.25% tin, up to about 2.25% zirconium, between about 1.75% and about 5.0% molybdenum, up to about 2.25% chromium, up to about 0.7% silicon and up to about 2.3% iron, with the balance being titanium.