Abstract: An insulation (10, 100) and an insulated article (40, 56, 62, 82) having improved properties for use in a high temperature combustion environment. The improved insulation may include composite particles (18) of alumina and zirconia-hafnia exhibiting micro-cracks that remain contained within the particles and do not extend into a surrounding binder material. The improved insulation may be a vapor resistance layer (VRL) top coat (80) disposed over a layer of mullite-based ceramic thermal insulation (72) and may be anchored to the thermal insulation by extending into pits (79) formed in the surface (S?) of the mullite-based insulation. Porosity and thickness of the top coat may be controlled to provide compatibility between the elastic modulus of the zirconia hafnia top coat and that of the underlying mullite-based insulation.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil (22E-H) extends from a shank (23E-H). A platform (30E-H) brackets or surrounds a first portion of the shank (23E-H). Opposed teeth (33, 35) extend laterally from the platform (30E-H) to engage respective slots (50) in a disk. Opposed teeth (25, 27) extend laterally from a second portion of the shank (29) that extends below the platform (30E-H) to engage other slots (52) in the disk. Thus the platform (30E-H) and the shank (23E-H) independently support their own centrifugal loads via their respective teeth. The platform may be formed in two portions (32E-H, 34E-H), that are bonded to each other at matching end-walls (37) and/or via pins (36G) passing through the shank (23E-H). Coolant channels (41, 43) may pass through the shank beside the pins (36G).

Abstract: A turbine airfoil (22A) is formed by a first process using a first material. A platform (30A) is formed by a second process using a second material that may be different from the first material. The platform (30A) is assembled around a shank (23A) of the airfoil. One or more pins (36A) extend from the platform into holes (28) in the shank (23A). The platform may be formed in two portions (32A, 34A) and placed around the shank, enclosing it. The two platform portions may be bonded to each other. Alternately, the platform (30B) may be cast around the shank (23B) using a metal alloy with better castability than that of the blade and shank, which may be specialized for thermal tolerance. The pins (36A-36D) or holes for them do not extend to an outer surface (31) of the platform, avoiding stress concentrations.

Abstract: An airfoil (10) is provided with a tip (12) having an opening (14) to a center channel (24). A damping element (16) is inserted within the opening of the center channel, to reduce an induced vibration of the airfoil. The mass of the damping element, a spring constant of the damping element within the center channel, and/or a mounting location (58) of the damping element within the center channel may be adjustably varied, to shift a resonance frequency of the airfoil outside a natural operating frequency of the airfoil.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for use in a turbine engine having ceramic components. The sealing arrangement is retained in a seal gap formed between adjacent segments and is compliant to accommodate variations in the size of the seal gap as the adjacent segments move relative to one another.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a vane assembly formed by a forward airfoil segment and an aft airfoil segment. The aft segment is made of metal and can define the trailing edge of the vane assembly. The forward segment can be made of ceramic, CMC or metal. The forward and aft segments cannot be directly joined to each other because of differences in their rates of thermal expansion and contraction. The forward and aft segments can be positioned substantially proximate to each other so as to form a gap therebetween. In one embodiment, the gap can be substantially sealed by providing a coupling insert or leaf springs in the gap. A separate metal aft segment can take advantage of the beneficial thermal properties of the metal to improve cooling efficiency at the trailing edge without limiting the rest of the vane to being made out of metal.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine with a cooling system and a compliant dual wall configuration configured to enable thermal expansion between inner and outer layers while eliminating stress formation is disclosed. The compliant dual wall configuration may be formed a dual wall formed from inner and outer layers separated by a compliant structure. The compliant structure may be configured such that the outer layer may thermally expand without limitation by the inner layer. The compliant structure may be formed from a plurality of pedestals positioned generally parallel with each other. The pedestals may include a first foot attached to a first end of the pedestal and extending in a first direction aligned with the outer layer, and may include a second foot attached to a second end of the pedestal and extending in a second direction aligned with the inner layer.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine with a cooling system and a compliant dual wall configuration configured to enable thermal expansion between inner and outer layers while eliminating stress formation in the outer layer is disclosed. The compliant dual wall configuration may be formed a dual wall formed from inner and outer layers separated by a support structure. The outer layer may be a compliant layer configured such that the outer layer may thermally expand and thereby reduce the stress within the outer layer. The outer layer may be formed from a nonplanar surface configured to thermally expand. In another embodiment, the outer layer may be planar and include a plurality of slots enabling unrestricted thermal expansion in a direction aligned with the outer layer.

Abstract: A gas turbine CMC shroud plate (48A) with a vane-receiving opening (79) that matches a cross-section profile of a turbine vane airfoil (22). The shroud plate (48A) has first and second curved circumferential sides (73A, 74A) that generally follow the curves of respective first and second curved sides (81, 82) of the vane-receiving opening. Walls (75A, 76A, 77A, 78A, 80, 88) extend perpendicularly from the shroud plate forming a cross-bracing structure for the shroud plate. A vane (22) may be attached to the shroud plate by pins (83) or by hoop-tension rings (106) that clamp tabs (103) of the shroud plate against bosses (105) of the vane. A circular array (20) of shroud plates (48A) may be assembled to form a vane shroud ring in which adjacent shroud plates are separated by compressible ceramic seals (93).

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a ring seal for a turbine engine. The ring seal can be made up of a plurality of circumferentially abutted ring seal segments. Each ring seal segment can comprise a plurality of individual channels. The channels can be generally U-shaped in cross-section with a forward span, and aft span and an extension connecting therebetween. The channels can be positioned such that the aft span of one channel can substantially abut the forward span of another channel. The plurality of separate channels can be detachably coupled to each other by, for example, a plurality of pins. The ring seal segment according to aspects of the invention can facilitate numerous advantageous characteristics including greater material selection, selective cooling, improved serviceability, and reduced blade tip leakage. Moreover, the configuration is well suited to handle the operational loads of the turbine.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a ring seal for a turbine engine. The ring seal can be made up of a plurality of circumferentially abutted ring seal segments. Each ring seal segment can comprise a plurality of individual channels. The channels can be generally U-shaped in cross-section with a forward span, and aft span and an extension connecting therebetween. The channels can be positioned such that the aft span of one channel can substantially abut the forward span of another channel. The plurality of separate channels can be detachably coupled to each other by, for example, a plurality of pins. The ring seal segment according to aspects of the invention can facilitate numerous advantageous characteristics including greater material selection, selective cooling, improved serviceability, and reduced blade tip leakage. Moreover, the configuration is well suited to handle the operational loads of the turbine.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic matrix composite structure is disclosed. The ceramic matrix composite structure may include a three-dimensional weave fabric forming a core layer. The ceramic matrix composite structure may also include a two-dimensional weave fabric attached to an outer top surface of the three-dimensional weave fabric such that the two-dimensional weave fabric forms a top layer, and a two-dimensional weave fabric attached to an outer bottom surface of the three-dimensional weave fabric generally opposite to the outer top surface such that the two-dimensional weave fabric forms a bottom layer. The structure may include increased interlaminar shear strength.

Abstract: A method of processing solid core ceramic matrix composite articles. The method improves the physical characteristics of the article by forming the airfoil using a co-processing method wherein a refractory ceramic is cast against a preformed ceramic matrix composite (CMC) shell. In one aspect, the shell is continuous to help prevent delaminations. In another aspect, the shell is open. In one embodiment, the article includes a split line. The split line helps the article to be less susceptible to damage caused from internal strain.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a refractory component such as a turbine shroud ring segment (32) with a ceramic core (42) onto a combustion turbine engine structure (34). The ring segment has a ceramic matrix composite skin (40), and optionally, a thermal insulation layer (46). A pin (60) is inserted through a bore (48) in the core and through an attachment bar (54) with ends received in wells (50) in the core. The attachment bar may be attached to a backing member, or tophat (64), by a biasing device (76) that urges the refractory component snugly against the backing member to eliminate vibration. The backing member and refractory component have mating surfaces that may include angled sides (52S, 70). The backing member is attached to the engine structure. Turbine shroud ring segments can be attached by this apparatus to a surrounding structure to form a shroud ring.

Abstract: A catalyst element (30) for high temperature applications such as a gas turbine engine. The catalyst element includes a metal substrate such as a tube (32) having a layer of ceramic thermal barrier coating material (34) disposed on the substrate for thermally insulating the metal substrate from a high temperature fuel/air mixture. The ceramic thermal barrier coating material is formed of a crystal structure populated with base elements but with selected sites of the crystal structure being populated by substitute ions selected to allow the ceramic thermal barrier coating material to catalytically react the fuel-air mixture at a higher rate than would the base compound without the ionic substitutions. Precious metal crystallites may be disposed within the crystal structure to allow the ceramic thermal barrier coating material to catalytically react the fuel-air mixture at a lower light-off temperature than would the ceramic thermal barrier coating material without the precious metal crystallites.

Abstract: An airfoil (26) for a gas turbine engine (10) having a source of heat for controlling a temperature gradient across the airfoil components. In one embodiment the airfoil includes a CMC outer body (28) defining an airfoil shape and a ceramic inner body core member (36) housed within and bonded to the outer body, and a heating element (54) disposed within the inner body core member. In another embodiment the source of heat may include a conduit (55) for delivering a flow of hot combustion gas from the combustor (14) to an interior of the airfoil. Heat energy may be delivered to the airfoil interior prior to or during startup of the engine in order to reduce the effect of temperature transients, during ongoing operation of the engine to reduce steady state temperature gradients, and/or during shutdown conditions to mitigate differential shrinkage between the core member and the outer body of the airfoil.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a vane assembly formed by a forward airfoil segment and an aft airfoil segment. The aft segment is made of metal and can define the trailing edge of the vane assembly. The forward segment can be made of ceramic, CMC or metal. The forward and aft segments cannot be directly joined to each other because of differences in their rates of thermal expansion and contraction. The forward and aft segments can be positioned substantially proximate to each other so as to form a gap therebetween. In one embodiment, the gap can be substantially sealed by providing a coupling insert or leaf springs in the gap. A separate metal aft segment can take advantage of the beneficial thermal properties of the metal to improve cooling efficiency at the trailing edge without limiting the rest of the vane to being made out of metal.

Abstract: A means (22) for structurally stiffening or reinforcing a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) gas turbine component, such as an airfoil-shaped component, is provided. This structural stiffening or reinforcing of the airfoil allows for reducing bending stress that may be produced from internal or external pressurization of the airfoil without incurring any substantial thermal stress. The stiffener is disposed on a CMC wall and generally extends along a chord length of the airfoil.

Abstract: A means (22) for structurally stiffening or reinforcing a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) gas turbine component, such as an airfoil-shaped component, is provided. This structural stiffening or reinforcing of the airfoil allows for reducing bending stress that may be produced from internal or external pressurization of the airfoil without incurring any substantial thermal stress. The stiffener is disposed on a CMC wall and generally extends along a chord length of the airfoil.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a vane assembly formed by a forward airfoil segment and an aft airfoil segment. The aft segment is made of metal and can define the trailing edge of the vane assembly. The forward segment can be made of ceramic, CMC or metal. The forward and aft segments cannot be directly joined to each other because of differences in their rates of thermal expansion and contraction. The forward and aft segments can be positioned substantially proximate to each other so as to form a gap therebetween. In one embodiment, the gap can be substantially sealed by providing a coupling insert or leaf springs in the gap. A separate metal aft segment can take advantage of the beneficial thermal properties of the metal to improve cooling efficiency at the trailing edge without limiting the rest of the vane to being made out of metal.