Abstract: A hot gas path (HGP) component of an industrial machine includes primary and secondary cooling pathways. A body includes an internal cooling circuit carrying a cooling medium. A primary cooling pathway is spaced internally in the body and carries a primary flow of a cooling medium from an internal cooling circuit. A secondary cooling pathway is in the body and in fluid communication with an internal cooling circuit. The secondary cooling pathway is fluidly incommunicative and spaced internally from the primary cooling pathway. In response to an overheating event occurring, the secondary cooling pathway opens to allow a secondary flow of cooling medium through to the outer surface of the body and/or the primary cooling pathway. The primary flow flows in the primary cooling pathway prior to the overheating event, and the secondary flow of cooling medium does not flow until after an opening of the secondary cooling pathway.

Abstract: A hot gas path component of an industrial machine includes a cooling pathway. The component includes a body including an outer surface; a thermal barrier coating (TBC) over the outer surface, the TBC exposed to a working fluid having a high temperature; and an internal cooling circuit in the body carrying a cooling medium. A cooling pathway is in the body and in fluid communication with the internal cooling circuit. The cooling pathway includes a terminating end in the body and a length extending along and spaced internally from the outer surface by a first spacing. In response to a spall in the TBC occurring at a location over the cooling pathway and the high temperature reaching or exceeding a predetermined temperature of the body, the cooling pathway opens at the location through the first spacing to allow a flow of the cooling medium therethrough.

Abstract: A hot gas path (HGP) component of an industrial machine includes primary and secondary cooling pathways. A body includes an internal cooling circuit carrying a cooling medium. A primary cooling pathway is spaced internally in the body and carries a primary flow of a cooling medium from an internal cooling circuit. A secondary cooling pathway is in the body and in fluid communication with an internal cooling circuit. The secondary cooling pathway is fluidly incommunicative and spaced internally from the primary cooling pathway. In response to an overheating event occurring, the secondary cooling pathway opens to allow a secondary flow of cooling medium through to the outer surface of the body and/or the primary cooling pathway. The primary flow flows in the primary cooling pathway prior to the overheating event, and the secondary flow of cooling medium does not flow until after an opening of the secondary cooling pathway.

Abstract: A hot gas path component of an industrial machine includes a cooling pathway. The component includes a body including an outer surface; a thermal barrier coating (TBC) over the outer surface, the TBC exposed to a working fluid having a high temperature; and an internal cooling circuit in the body carrying a cooling medium. A cooling pathway is in the body and in fluid communication with the internal cooling circuit. The cooling pathway includes a terminating end in the body and a length extending along and spaced internally from the outer surface by a first spacing. In response to a spall in the TBC occurring at a location over the cooling pathway and the high temperature reaching or exceeding a predetermined temperature of the body, the cooling pathway opens at the location through the first spacing to allow a flow of the cooling medium therethrough.

Abstract: A cooling structure for a turbomachine. In one embodiment, the cooling structure is for a seal slot of the turbomachine. The cooling structure includes a body coupled to a surface of the seal slot. The body includes a passageway on a first surface of the body for providing a cooling fluid to the seal slot. In an other embodiment, a apparatus includes a first component and a second component adjacent the first component. The apparatus also includes a seal slot extending between the first component and the second component, and a cooling structure positioned within the seal slot. The cooling structure includes a body coupled to a surface of the seal slot. The body has a passageway on a first surface of the body for providing a cooling fluid to the seal slot.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade for a gas turbine engine is described. The turbine rotor blade includes an airfoil that includes a tip at an outer radial end. The tip includes a rail that defines a tip cavity; and the rail includes a circumscribing rail microchannel. The circumscribing rail microchannel is a microchannel that extends around at least a majority of the length of the inner rail surface.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade used in a gas turbine engine, which includes an airfoil having a tip at an outer radial edge, is described. The airfoil includes a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall that join together at a leading edge and a trailing edge of the airfoil, the pressure sidewall and the suction sidewall extending from a root to the tip. The tip includes a tip plate and, disposed along a periphery of the tip plate, a rail. The rail includes a microchannel connected to a coolant source.

Abstract: A system including: a first turbine segment comprising a first blade coupled to a first shank. The system also includes a second turbine segment including a second blade coupled to a second shank, as well as an elongated flexible seal disposed in a gap between the first and second shanks. The elongated flexible seal includes an opening configured to channel a fluid flow into a hollow region of the elongated flexible seal to induce expansion of the elongated flexible seal in the gap.

Abstract: A cooling structure for a turbomachine. In one embodiment, the cooling structure is for a seal slot of the turbomachine. The cooling structure includes a body coupled to a surface of the seal slot. The body includes a passageway on a first surface of the body for providing a cooling fluid to the seal slot. In an other embodiment, a apparatus includes a first component and a second component adjacent the first component. The apparatus also includes a seal slot extending between the first component and the second component, and a cooling structure positioned within the seal slot. The cooling structure includes a body coupled to a surface of the seal slot. The body has a passageway on a first surface of the body for providing a cooling fluid to the seal slot.

Abstract: A turbine component having a curved cooling passage is disclosed. The turbine component may generally comprise an airfoil having a base and a tip disposed opposite the base. The airfoil may further include a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. An airfoil cooling circuit may be at least partially disposed within the airfoil and may be configured to direct a cooling medium through the airfoil. The curved cooling passage may generally be in flow communication with the airfoil cooling circuit such that the cooling medium flowing through the airfoil cooling circuit may be directed into the cooling passage. Additionally, the curved cooling passage may generally extend lengthwise within the airfoil between the leading and trialing edges along at least a portion of one of the pressure side and the suction side of the airfoil.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade for a gas turbine engine is described. The turbine rotor blade includes an airfoil that includes a tip at an outer radial end. The tip includes a rail that defines a tip cavity; and the rail includes a circumscribing rail microchannel. The circumscribing rail microchannel is a microchannel that extends around at least a majority of the length of the inner rail surface.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade used in a gas turbine engine, which includes an airfoil having a tip at an outer radial edge, is described. The airfoil includes a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall that join together at a leading edge and a trailing edge of the airfoil, the pressure sidewall and the suction sidewall extending from a root to the tip. The tip includes a tip plate and, disposed along a periphery of the tip plate, a rail. The rail includes a microchannel connected to a coolant source.

Abstract: A retention system for a plurality of turbine buckets located in respective mating slots in a turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of first retention slots formed in outer peripheral portions of the turbine wheel, and a plurality of second retention slots formed in wheel mounting portions of the buckets. The first and second retention slots are aligned to form an annular retention slot extending about a peripheral portion of the rotor wheel. A lockwire is located within the annular retention slot, the lockwire having engaged free ends. A plurality of axially-oriented retaining pins are fixed in the rotor wheel to hold the lockwire in the annular retention slot, and various techniques are employed for at least limiting or substantially preventing circumferential rotation of the lockwire within the annular slot.

Abstract: A system including: a first turbine segment comprising a first blade coupled to a first shank. The system also includes a second turbine segment including a second blade coupled to a second shank, as well as an elongated flexible seal disposed in a gap between the first and second shanks. The elongated flexible seal includes an opening configured to channel a fluid flow into a hollow region of the elongated flexible seal to induce expansion of the elongated flexible seal in the gap.

Abstract: A turbine component having a curved cooling passage is disclosed. The turbine component may generally comprise an airfoil having a base and a tip disposed opposite the base. The airfoil may further include a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. An airfoil cooling circuit may be at least partially disposed within the airfoil and may be configured to direct a cooling medium through the airfoil. The curved cooling passage may generally be in flow communication with the airfoil cooling circuit such that the cooling medium flowing through the airfoil cooling circuit may be directed into the cooling passage. Additionally, the curved cooling passage may generally extend lengthwise within the airfoil between the leading and trialing edges along at least a portion of one of the pressure side and the suction side of the airfoil.

Abstract: Third stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z? set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z? values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z? values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of +/?.0.040 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: A retention system for a plurality of turbine buckets located in respective mating slots in a turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of first retention slots formed in outer peripheral portions of the turbine wheel, and a plurality of second retention slots formed in wheel mounting portions of the buckets. The first and second retention slots are aligned to form an annular retention slot extending about a peripheral portion of the rotor wheel. A lockwire is located within the annular retention slot, the lockwire having engaged free ends. A plurality of axially-oriented retaining pins are fixed in the rotor wheel to hold the lockwire in the annular retention slot, and various techniques are employed for at least limiting or substantially preventing circumferential rotation of the lockwire within the annular slot.

Abstract: A pattern for improving aerodynamic performance of a turbine includes a material disposed in a pattern at a base surface of a turbine shroud such that the material is capable of abradable contact with a tip portion of a turbine bucket. The pattern includes a first plurality of ridges disposed at the base surface such that a first portion of the first plurality of ridges corresponding to a back portion of the turbine bucket is oriented at a first angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the turbine bucket. Each ridge of the first plurality of ridges has a first sidewall and a second sidewall having a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first and second sidewalls extend from the base surface. The first and second sidewalls slope toward each other with substantially equal but opposite slopes until meeting at the second ends of respective first and second sidewalls defining a centerline and a top portion of the ridge.

Abstract: An article of manufacture pattern for improving aerodynamic performance of a turbine including an abradable material capable of abradable contact. The abradable material is disposed in a pattern. The pattern includes a first plurality of ridges disposed at a base surface of the turbine. Each ridge of the first plurality of ridges has a first sidewall and a second sidewall having a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first and second sidewalls extend from the base surface. The first and second sidewalls slope toward each other with substantially equal but opposite slopes until meeting at the second ends of respective first and second sidewalls defining a centerline and a top portion of the ridge.

Abstract: A localized directional impingement cooling is used to reduce the metal temperatures on highly stressed regions of the tip shroud.