Abstract: A compliant seal for use between rotating blades and a static shroud surrounding the rotating blades in a steam or gas turbine is disclosed. The seal includes a tip surface, substantially resistant to wear due to rubbing by the tip of the rotating blades, and an elastic biasing member, comprising a biasing element. The wear-resistant surface is thus biased against the tips of the rotating blades to seal a gas path between the rotating blades and the static shroud.

Abstract: The article comprising an antifouling surface is provided. The surface comprises a material having a nominal liquid wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, a nominal contact angle of at least about 30 degrees; and a texture comprising a plurality of features disposed on the surface. The 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 greater than the nominal contact angle. The features comprise a height dimension (h), a width dimension (a), a spacing dimension (b) such that, ratio b/a is less than about 4, and ratio h/a is less than about 10. In one embodiment, a turbine component comprising an antifouling surface is provided.

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 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 stator vane assembly for a gas turbine includes a ceramic matrix composite airfoil held between radially inner and outer metal platforms wherein an interface between the airfoil and at least one of the radially inner and outer platforms is shaped to create a circuitous leakage path for gas from the gas turbine hot gas path.

Abstract: A rotary machine includes a rotary component disposed inside a stationary component. A brush sealing system is disposed between the stationary component and the rotary component. The brush sealing system includes a holding device coupled to the stationary component. A plurality of carbon bristles is provided, each bristle having a first end coupled to the holding device and a second end protruding from the holding device towards the rotary component. Diameter of each bristle is in the range of 0.1 to 1 mils.

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 stator vane assembly for a gas turbine includes a ceramic matrix composite airfoil held between radially inner and outer metal platforms wherein an interface between the airfoil and at least one of the radially inner and outer platforms is shaped to create a circuitous leakage path for gas from the gas turbine hot gas path.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of heat is presented. The apparatus comprises a textured heat transfer surface disposed to promote condensation of a vapor medium to a liquid condensate, the surface comprising a plurality of surface texture features disposed on the heat transfer surface. The plurality of features has a median size, a median spacing, and a median height displacement such that the force exerted by the surface to pin a drop of condensate to the surface is equal to or less than an external force acting to remove the drop from the surface. Also included are heat pumps, systems for power generation, and distillation systems comprising the apparatus.

Abstract: An article having low wettability is presented. The article comprises a body portion and a surface portion disposed on the body portion. The surface portion comprises a plurality of features disposed on the body portion, and the features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface portion has a wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference liquid, a contact angle of at least about 100 degrees. The features comprise a height dimension (h) and a width dimension (a), and are disposed in a spaced-apart relationship characterized by a spacing dimension (b). The ratio of b/a and the ratio of h/a are such that the drop exhibits metastable non-Wenzel behavior.

Abstract: A seal having a first seal mechanism adapted for insertion between a first structure and a second structure, wherein the first structure is in communication with a first medium and the second structure is in communication with a second medium. The seal also includes a second seal mechanism, which is pressuringly biasable against the first seal mechanism and against the second structure by the second medium. In certain embodiments, a system has a first structure in communication with a first medium and a second structure houses a seal assembly between the first and second structures. The seal assembly includes an interface seal disposed against the first structure and a flexible seal pressuringly biased against the second structure and the interface seal by a second medium.

Abstract: A collar seal is configured for a turbine nozzle vane. The seal includes a retainer having a circumferential airfoil contour conforming with the airfoil contour of the vane. A flexible leaf is surrounded by the retainer and fixedly joined thereto. A woven sheath encases the leaf and is fixedly joined to the retainer. In an exemplary embodiment, the collar seal surrounds one end of a ceramic turbine vane mounted in a metal supporting band.

Abstract: A collar seal is configured for a turbine nozzle vane. The seal includes a retainer having a circumferential airfoil contour conforming with the airfoil contour of the vane. A flexible leaf is surrounded by the retainer and fixedly joined thereto. A woven sheath encases the leaf and is fixedly joined to the retainer. In an exemplary embodiment, the collar seal surrounds one end of a ceramic turbine vane mounted in a metal supporting band.

Abstract: A seal having a first seal mechanism adapted for insertion between a first structure and a second structure, wherein the first structure is in communication with a first medium and the second structure is in communication with a second medium. The seal also includes a second seal mechanism, which is pressuringly biasable against the first seal mechanism and against the second structure by the second medium. In certain embodiments, a system has a first structure in communication with a first medium and a second structure houses a seal assembly between the first and second structures. The seal assembly includes an interface seal disposed against the first structure and a flexible seal pressuringly biased against the second structure and the interface seal by a second medium.

Abstract: A compliant seal for use between rotating blades and a static shroud surrounding the rotating blades in a steam or gas turbine is disclosed. The seal includes a tip surface, substantially resistant to wear due to rubbing by the tip of the rotating blades, and an elastic biasing member, comprising a biasing element. The wear-resistant surface is thus biased against the tips of the rotating blades to seal a gas path between the rotating blades and the static shroud.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a rotating component of a rotary machine includes a bearing housing and a metallic clearance seal attached to the bearing housing. The metallic clearance seal having at least one tooth is configured to extend radially outward from the bearing housing spaced apart from the rotating component to define an envelope having a pre-determined cross-sectional shape. A non-metallic brush seal assembly is fixedly attached to the metallic clearance seal having a second pre-determined cross-sectional shape. The non-metallic brush seal assembly is adapted to the metallic clearance seal to extend through the envelope and terminate in substantially intimate contact with the rotating component. The non-metallic brush seal assembly comprises a plurality of fibers to substantially arrest leakage of a lubricant from the bearing housing to the envelope.

Abstract: An article for controlling flow of a fluid medium in a fluid path comprises a brush seal carrier and at least one brush seal coil disposed within the brush seal carrier. The brush seal coil is arranged in predetermined array and comprises a continuous helical member. In addition, a brush seal, for controlling the flow of the fluid medium in the fluid path, comprises a plurality of fibers secured to the brush seal coil.

Abstract: An article for controlling flow of a fluid medium in a fluid path comprises a brush seal carrier and at least one brush seal coil disposed within the brush seal carrier. The brush seal coil is arranged in a predetermined array and comprises a continuous helical member. In addition, a brush seal, for controlling the flow of the fluid medium in the fluid path, comprises a plurality of fibers and is secured to the brush seal coil.