Abstract: A turbine nozzle assembly includes an inner circumferential support platform, an outer circumferential support platform, and a plurality of airfoil vanes disposed between the inner circumferential support platform and the outer circumferential support platform. The turbine nozzle assembly further includes a plurality of impingement plates disposed along a radially outer surface of the outer circumferential support platform or a radially inner surface of the inner circumferential support platform, and a plurality of gap-maintaining features disposed between the plurality of outer or inner circumferential support platforms and the plurality of impingement plates. Each gap-maintaining feature of the plurality of gap-maintaining features is provided at a height such that a cooling air flow space is maintained between the plurality of outer or inner circumferential support platforms and the plurality of impingement plates.

Abstract: A turbine section includes a stator assembly having an inner diameter end wall, an outer diameter end wall, and a stator vane; a turbine rotor assembly including a rotor blade extending into the mainstream gas flow path; a housing including an annular shroud that circumscribes the rotor blade and at least partially defines the mainstream hot gas flow path; a first baffle arranged to define a first cavity with the outer diameter end wall of the stator assembly; a second baffle; and a third baffle arranged to define a second cavity with the second baffle and a third cavity with the shroud. The first cavity is fluidly coupled to the second cavity and the second cavity is fluidly coupled to the third cavity such that cooling air flows from the first cavity to the second cavity and from the second cavity to the third cavity.

Abstract: An engine component includes a body; and a plurality of cooling holes formed in the body, at least one of the cooling holes having a multi-lobed shape with at least a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe.

Abstract: Turbine blade airfoils, film cooling systems thereof, and methods for forming improved film cooled components are provided. The turbine blade airfoil has an external wall surface and comprises leading and trailing edges, pressure and suction sidewalls both extending between the leading and the trailing edges, an internal cavity, one or more isolation trenches in the external wall surface, a plurality of film cooling holes arranged in cooling rows, and a plurality of span-wise surface connectors interconnecting the outlets of the film cooling holes in the same cooling row to form a plurality of rows of interconnected film cooling holes. Each film cooling hole has an inlet connected to the internal cavity and an outlet opening onto the external wall surface. The span-wise surface connectors in at least one selected row of interconnected film cooling holes are disposed in the one or more isolation trenches.

Abstract: Turbine blade airfoils, showerhead film cooling systems thereof, and methods for cooling the turbine blade airfoils using the same are provided. The airfoil has a leading edge and a trailing edge, a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall both extending between the leading and the trailing edges, and an internal cavity for supplying cooling air. A showerhead of film cooling holes is connected to the internal cavity. Each film cooling hole has an inlet connected to the internal cavity and an outlet opening onto an external wall surface at the leading edge of the airfoil. A plurality of surface connectors is formed in the external wall surface. Each surface connector of the plurality of surface connectors interconnects the outlets of at least one selected pair of the film cooling holes.

Abstract: A turbine section includes a stator assembly having an inner diameter end wall, an outer diameter end wall, and a stator vane; a turbine rotor assembly including a rotor blade extending into the mainstream gas flow path; a housing including an annular shroud that circumscribes the rotor blade and at least partially defines the mainstream hot gas flow path; a first baffle arranged to define a first cavity with the outer diameter end wall of the stator assembly; a second baffle; and a third baffle arranged to define a second cavity with the second baffle and a third cavity with the shroud. The first cavity is fluidly coupled to the second cavity and the second cavity is fluidly coupled to the third cavity such that cooling air flows from the first cavity to the second cavity and from the second cavity to the third cavity.

Abstract: An axially-split radial turbine includes a forward rotor section and an aft rotor section being mechanically and abuttingly coupled to one another along an annular interface that resides within a plane generally orthogonal to a rotational axis of the axially-split radial turbine. The axially-split radial turbine can be provided as part of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: Turbine blade airfoils, showerhead film cooling systems thereof, and methods for cooling the turbine blade airfoils using the same are provided. The airfoil has a leading edge and a trailing edge, a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall both extending between the leading and the trailing edges, and an internal cavity for supplying cooling air. A showerhead of film cooling holes is connected to the internal cavity. Each film cooling hole has an inlet connected to the internal cavity and an outlet opening onto an external wall surface at the leading edge of the airfoil. A plurality of surface connectors is formed in the external wall surface. Each surface connector of the plurality of surface connectors interconnects the outlets of at least one selected pair of the film cooling holes.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes a housing including an annular duct wall that at least partially defines a mainstream hot gas flow path; a stator assembly with a stator vane extending into the mainstream gas flow; and a turbine rotor assembly upstream of the stator assembly and defining a turbine cavity with the stator assembly. The turbine rotor assembly includes a rotor disk having a forward side and an aft side, a rotor platform positioned on a periphery of the rotor disk, the rotor platform defining an aft flow discourager, a rotor blade mounted on the rotor platform extending into the mainstream gas flow, and an aft seal plate mounted on the aft side of the rotor disk. The aft seal plate has a radius such that the aft seal plate protects the rotor disk from hot gas ingestion.

Abstract: An engine component includes a body; and a plurality of cooling holes formed in the body, at least one of the cooling holes having a multi-lobed shape with at least a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe.

Abstract: An axially-split radial turbine includes a forward rotor section and an aft rotor section being mechanically and abuttingly coupled to one another along an annular interface that resides within a plane generally orthogonal to a rotational axis of the axially-split radial turbine. The axially-split radial turbine can be provided as part of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An air-cooled turbine blade and methods of manufacturing the blade are provided. The blade includes a suction side flow circuit formed within its interior and defined at least by an interior surface of a convex suction side wall, a pressure side flow circuit formed within the blade interior and defined at least by an interior surface of a concave pressure side wall, and a center flow circuit including a first section and a second section, the first section disposed between the suction side flow circuit and the pressure side flow circuit, and the second section in flow communication with the first section and a plurality of openings of a leading edge wall and defined at least partially by an interior surface of the leading edge wall.

Abstract: A turbine blade assembly includes an airfoil, a platform, and a first cover plate. A center flow path extends through the platform in communication with an internal cooling circuit of the airfoil, which extends from a first side of the platform. A second side of the platform is located opposite the platform from the first side. An edge of the platform extends between the first and second sides and, a first passage is formed between the first and second sides and includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The first passage extends from the center flow path toward the platform edge, and a first groove is formed on the second side of the platform and extends from the first outlet of the first passage toward the edge of the platform. The first cover plate is disposed over the second side of the platform covering the first groove.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes a housing including an annular duct wall that at least partially defines a mainstream hot gas flow path; a stator assembly with a stator vane extending into the mainstream gas flow; and a turbine rotor assembly upstream of the stator assembly and defining a turbine cavity with the stator assembly. The turbine rotor assembly includes a rotor disk having a forward side and an aft side, a rotor platform positioned on a periphery of the rotor disk, the rotor platform defining an aft flow discourager, a rotor blade mounted on the rotor platform extending into the mainstream gas flow, and an aft seal plate mounted on the aft side of the rotor disk. The aft seal plate has a radius such that the aft seal plate protects the rotor disk from hot gas ingestion.

Abstract: A turbine blade assembly includes an airfoil, a platform, and a first cover plate. A center flow path extends through the platform in communication with an internal cooling circuit of the airfoil, which extends from a first side of the platform. A second side of the platform is located opposite the platform from the first side. An edge of the platform extends between the first and second sides and, a first passage is formed between the first and second sides and includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The first passage extends from the center flow path toward the platform edge, and a first groove is formed on the second side of the platform and extends from the first outlet of the first passage toward the edge of the platform. The first cover plate is disposed over the second side of the platform covering the first groove.

Abstract: An air-cooled turbine blade and methods of manufacturing the blade are provided. The blade includes a suction side flow circuit formed within its interior and defined at least by an interior surface of a convex suction side wall, a pressure side flow circuit formed within the blade interior and defined at least by an interior surface of a concave pressure side wall, and a center flow circuit including a first section and a second section, the first section disposed between the suction side flow circuit and the pressure side flow circuit, and the second section in flow communication with the first section and a plurality of openings of a leading edge wall and defined at least partially by an interior surface of the leading edge wall.