Abstract: A method of preventing thermal hydrocarbon degradation deposits on a surface of a gas turbine component, the method includes providing the turbine component comprising the surface configured for contacting a hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the substrate comprises a material having a nominal liquid wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, a nominal contact angle, disposing a plurality of features on the substrate to form an anti-deposition surface texture, wherein the plurality of features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface has an effective wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, an effective contact angle of greater than the nominal contact angle, and the features comprise a width dimension (a), and a spacing dimension (b), wherein the features prevent the hydrocarbon fluid from penetrating into the surface texture and thereby reduce the adhesion of the thermal hydrocarbon deposits to the surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a failure estimate for one or more components of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) includes forming from failure models and at least one of fired hours and fired starts, factored hours and factored starts. The factored hours and/or starts are applied to failure equations for the one or more components to form the failure estimate.

Abstract: A method of forming a failure estimate for one or more components of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) includes forming from failure models and at least one of fired hours and fired starts, factored hours and factored starts. The factored hours and/or starts are applied to failure equations for the one or more components to form the failure estimate.

Abstract: A system and method each utilize combustion dynamics data to monitor and assess gas turbine combustor health and performance. The system and method each employ a physics-based model to differentiate changes in the spectral features attributable to variations in the operating conditions from differences caused from changes in the hardware.

Abstract: A fixture assembly and inspection method by which the internal diameter and/or concentricity of a segmented annular seal can be readily inspected and optionally measured prior to final installation. The fixture assembly has at least two fixture segments supported on a base, by which an annular fixture housing is defined having an outer rim and a groove with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the annular seal. The fixture assembly further includes a device or apparatus for assessing at least one dimensional characteristic of the annular seal when installed in the groove of the fixture housing and as the assessing device/apparatus travels along the interior circumference of the fixture housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a substrate. The method further includes disposing a coating mixture on a surface of the substrate, wherein the coating mixture comprises a braze material and a texture-providing material. The method further includes heating the braze material to bond the texture-providing material to the surface of the substrate to form the article having the wetting-resistant surface.

Abstract: A method for modifying a sealing system of a hydrogen-cooled generator includes coupling to a sealing device of the generator a contacting seal comprising a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting from an aluminum body with tips of the bristles engaging a rotor of the generator. Another method includes removing a portion of a non-contacting seal, providing a replacement sealing device comprising an aluminum body and a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting therefrom, and replacing the removed portion of the non-contacting seal by coupling the aluminum body to the non-contacting seal such that tips of the bristles contact the rotor. Another method includes removing an original sealing device, providing a replacement sealing device comprising an aluminum body and a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting therefrom, and inserting the replacement sealing device into the generator such that tips of the bristles contact a rotor of the generator.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.

Abstract: A fixture assembly and inspection method by which the internal diameter and/or concentricity of a segmented annular seal can be readily inspected and optionally measured prior to final installation. The fixture assembly has at least two fixture segments supported on a base, by which an annular fixture housing is defined having an outer rim and a groove with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the annular seal. The fixture assembly further includes a device or apparatus for assessing at least one dimensional characteristic of the annular seal when installed in the groove of the fixture housing and as the assessing device/apparatus travels along the interior circumference of the fixture housing.

Abstract: A fixture assembly and inspection method by which the internal diameter and/or concentricity of a segmented annular seal can be readily inspected and optionally measured prior to final installation. The fixture assembly has at least two fixture segments supported on a base, by which an annular fixture housing is defined having an outer rim and a groove with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the annular seal. The fixture assembly further includes a device or apparatus for assessing at least one dimensional characteristic of the annular seal when installed in the groove of the fixture housing and as the assessing device/apparatus travels along the interior circumference of the fixture housing.

Abstract: A protective shield for a device exposed to heat includes a granular fill layer, a nano particle layer, a metallic foam layer, a thermal barrier coating, or combinations thereof. The shield is configured for providing thermal resistance, and damping of vibrations, and acoustics to the device.

Abstract: A turbine engine component includes at least one treated surface wherein the treated surface has a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 12 microinches; and a hard coating disposed on the superfinished surface, wherein the hard coating is a nitride and/or a carbide material at a thickness of less than 50 microns formed using electron beam physical vapor deposition, cathodic arc evaporation, or magnetron sputtering. disclosed are methods for substantially preventing micropitting on a surface of a turbine engine component.

Abstract: Articles having surfaces with enhanced wetting properties are presented. One embodiment is an article having a surface configured for promoting a phase transformation from a liquid phase to a vapor phase. The article comprises an element comprising a surface disposed to be in contact with a liquid to be transformed to a vapor, and the surface comprises a plurality of surface features having a median feature size, a, and a median feature spacing, b, such that the ratio b/a is up to about 8. The surface comprises a material disposed to contact the liquid, and this material has a nominal wettability sufficient to generate a nominal contact angle of up to about 80 degrees with a drop of the liquid. Another embodiment is a fuel rod for a nuclear reactor comprising a surface configured as described above.

Abstract: A hydrogen-cooled generator includes a sealing device disposed between a rotor and a stator. The sealing device is configured for at least partially segregating hydrogen atmosphere on one side of the sealing device and a cavity on an opposite side of the sealing device. The sealing device includes a non-contacting seal and a contacting seal including an aluminum body coupled to the non-contacting seal and a plurality of non-metallic bristles projecting from the aluminum body with tips of the bristles engaging the rotor of the generator.

Abstract: A method for assembling a gas or steam turbine is provided. The method includes providing an insulator and positioning the insulator between a vane support and a vane such that the insulator facilitates preventing hot gas migration into the vane, and such that during operation, hot gas is channeled from a high pressure side of the vane to a low pressure side of the vane. A vane assembly for a turbine rotor assembly is also provided. The vane assembly includes a vane support and an insulator including a projecting portion. The assembly also includes a vane. The insulator is coupled to the vane support such that the projecting portion is between the vane and a nozzle support strut to facilitate hot gas flow from a pressure side of the projecting portion to a suction side of the projecting portion.

Abstract: An atomizer, comprising a pre-filming region comprising a surface configured to reduce a mean drop size of a liquid to be atomized, wherein the surface has an effective contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of less than about 30 degrees; and a lip portion disposed at an end of the pre-filming region and configured to create hydrodynamic instabilities in a liquid film, wherein the lip portion comprises an alternating pattern of wetting and non-wetting surfaces, wherein the non-wetting surface comprises a contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of greater than 90 degrees, and the wetting surface comprises a contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly. The ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly may include a ceramic matrix composite vane, a number of metallic components positioned about the ceramic matrix composite vane, and a number of metallic seals positioned between the ceramic matrix composite vane and one or more of the metallic components.

Abstract: A method for assembling a gas or steam turbine is provided. The method includes providing an insulator and positioning the insulator between a vane support and a vane such that the insulator facilitates preventing hot gas migration into the vane, and such that during operation, hot gas is channeled from a high pressure side of the vane to a low pressure side of the vane. A vane assembly for a turbine rotor assembly is also provided. The vane assembly includes a vane support and an insulator including a projecting portion. The assembly also includes a vane. The insulator is coupled to the vane support such that the projecting portion is between the vane and a nozzle support strut to facilitate hot gas flow from a pressure side of the projecting portion to a suction side of the projecting portion.

Abstract: A barrier seal system comprises a rotatable shaft disposed within an outer housing. The rotatable shaft axially extends from a high-pressure region to a low-pressure region within the outer housing. At least a portion of the rotatable shaft, typically the portion disposed adjacent to the low-pressure region, comprises an oleophobic surface. The system further comprises a barrier seal that radially extends from the outer housing to the rotatable shaft and defines a gap between the barrier seal and the rotatable shaft. A barrier gas injector is provided for injecting a barrier gas into the gap to flow from the high-pressure region to the low-pressure region.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.