Abstract: An apparatus harvests latent energy and water by adiabatically decompressing a controlled volume of atmospheric air to lower its pressure and temperature below the saturation point of included water vapor, thus causing the water vapor to change state to nonvaporous water and release to the decompressed air thermal energy associated with the change of state. The apparatus then extracts the nonvaporous water, leaving the released thermal energy in the decompressed air. The apparatus then recompresses the decompressed air, which will have a resulting temperature, and thus a thermal energy, greater than those of the initially ingested air, and harvests the recompressed air and its increased thermal energy. The apparatus can also humidify and warm atmospheric air before it is ingested to increase appreciably the amount of harvested thermal energy.

Abstract: A vane doublet for a turbine nozzle includes a radially inner band; a radially outer band; and a pair of airfoils extending between the inner band and the outer band. One of the inner and outer bands is split in a generally axial direction along a split line passing between the pair of airfoils, and a seal is secured between or adjacent to facing edges of the split line.

Abstract: A method for water jet stripping and recontouring of a coated article of manufacture is provided. The method includes dimensionally scanning the coated article and establishing a three-dimensional model for the coated article. The method further includes establishing a set of reduced dimensional profiles for recontouring and then analyzing whether the reduced profiles are satisfactory for subsequent operation. A jet spraying program is established for removal of the coating and the surface base material to each predetermined reduced dimensional profile.

Abstract: An apparatus harvests latent energy and water by adiabatically decompressing a controlled volume of atmospheric air to lower its pressure and temperature below the saturation point of included water vapor, thus causing the water vapor to change state to nonvaporous water and release to the decompressed air thermal energy associated with the change of state. The apparatus then extracts the nonvaporous water, leaving the released thermal energy in the decompressed air. The apparatus then recompresses the decompressed air, which will have a resulting temperature, and thus a thermal energy, greater than those of the initially ingested air, and harvests the recompressed air and its increased thermal energy. The apparatus can also humidify and warm atmospheric air before it is ingested to increase appreciably the amount of harvested thermal energy.

Abstract: An apparatus harvests latent energy and water by adiabatically decompressing a controlled volume of atmospheric air to lower its pressure and temperature below the saturation point of included water vapor, thus causing the water vapor to change state to nonvaporous water and release to the decompressed air thermal energy associated with the change of state. The apparatus then extracts the nonvaporous water, leaving the released thermal energy in the decompressed air. The apparatus then recompresses the decompressed air, which will have a resulting temperature, and thus a thermal energy, greater than those of the initially ingested air, and harvests the recompressed air and its increased thermal energy. The apparatus can also humidify and warm atmospheric air before it is ingested to increase appreciably the amount of harvested thermal energy.

Abstract: An inspection tool for a turbine bucket shroud includes: a clamp device for clamping a dovetail portion of a turbine bucket; a template plate provided with an aperture defined by a edge shaped to conform to a specified shape of the turbine bucket shroud, wherein the template is moveable to a location over the turbine bucket shroud in a direction toward the clamp device, and wherein, at the location, the aperture represents a design specification location for the turbine bucket shroud relative to the dovetail portion of the bucket. A measurement gauge is provided for measuring gaps between edges of the shroud and edges of the template aperture.

Abstract: A vane doublet for a turbine nozzle includes a radially inner band; a radially outer band; and a pair of airfoils extending between the inner band and the outer band. One of the inner and outer bands is split in a generally axial direction along a split line passing between the pair of airfoils, and a seal is secured between or adjacent to facing edges of the split line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for enabling the testing and evaluation of industrial machine components and, in particular, gas turbine engine components, under simulated in-situ thermal operating conditions for effectively evaluating new component designs and repair techniques. A specimen machine component/part is placed in a test chamber and cyclically heated and cooled while being monitored to obtain information regarding the initiation and propagation of a crack within the structure of the component. Information regarding the number of heating and cooling cycles sustained by the component until crack initiation and information indicating the rate of crack propagation are acquired and compared over multiple heating-cooling cycles to evaluate components and repair techniques.

Abstract: An inspection tool for a turbine bucket shroud includes: a clamp device for clamping a dovetail portion of a turbine bucket; a template plate provided with an aperture defined by a edge shaped to conform to a specified shape of the turbine bucket shroud, wherein the template is moveable to a location over the turbine bucket shroud in a direction toward the clamp device, and wherein, at the location, the aperture represents a design specification location for the turbine bucket shroud relative to the dovetail portion of the bucket. A measurement gauge is provided for measuring gaps between edges of the shroud and edges of the template aperture.

Abstract: A method for welding and brazing a metallic component, such as, for example, a metallic component in a turbine, such as a bucket or blade. The method includes the steps of welding the metallic component to create a welded component; covering the welded component with a braze material to create a braze-covered welded component; and subjecting the braze-covered welded component to stress relief treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus harvests latent energy and water by adiabatically decompressing a controlled volume of atmospheric air to lower its pressure and temperature below the saturation point of included water vapor, thus causing the water vapor to change state to nonvaporous water and release to the decompressed air thermal energy associated with the change of state. The apparatus then extracts the nonvaporous water, leaving the released thermal energy in the decompressed air. The apparatus then recompresses the decompressed air, which will have a resulting temperature, and thus a thermal energy, greater than those of the initially ingested air, and harvests the recompressed air and its increased thermal energy. The apparatus can also humidify and warm atmospheric air before it is ingested to increase appreciably the amount of harvested thermal energy.

Abstract: A method for water jet stripping and recontouring of a coated article of manufacture is provided. The method includes dimensionally scanning the coated article and establishing a three-dimensional model for the coated article. The method further includes establishing a set of reduced dimensional profiles for recontouring and then analyzing whether the reduced profiles are satisfactory for subsequent operation. A jet spraying program is established for removal of the coating and the surface base material to each predetermined reduced dimensional profile.

Abstract: A method for water jet stripping and recontouring of a coated article of manufacture is provided. The method includes dimensionally scanning the coated article and establishing a three-dimensional model for the coated article. The method further includes establishing a set of reduced dimensional profiles for recontouring and then analyzing whether the reduced profiles are satisfactory for subsequent operation. A jet spraying program is established for removal of the coating and the surface base material to each predetermined reduced dimensional profile.