Abstract: An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall.

Abstract: A method of providing turbulation on the inner surface of a passage hole (e.g., a turbine cooling hole) is described. The turbulation is first applied to a substrate which can eventually be inserted into the passage hole. The substrate is often a bar or tube, formed of a sacrificial material. After the turbulation is applied to the substrate, the substrate is inserted into the passage hole. The turbulation material is then fused to the inner surface, using a conventional heating technique. The sacrificial substrate can then be removed from the hole by various techniques. Related articles are also described.

Abstract: An article includes turbulation material bonded to a surface of a substrate via a bonding agent, such as a braze alloy. In an embodiment, the turbulation material includes a particulate phase of discrete metal alloy particles having an average particle size within a range of about 125 microns to about 4000 microns. Other embodiments include methods for applying turbulation and articles for forming turbulation.

Abstract: A casting includes a heat transfer surface having a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities include a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. Also disclosed is a mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting. The mold includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.

Abstract: An article includes turbulation material bonded to a surface of a substrate via a bonding agent, such as a braze alloy. In an embodiment, the turbulation material includes a particulate phase of discrete metal alloy particles having an average particle size within a range of about 125 microns to about 4000 microns. Other embodiments include methods for applying turbulation and articles for forming turbulation.

Abstract: An electrode for rejuvenating a cooling passage within an airfoil, the electrode including a tip, an end, a conductive core extending between the tip and the end, and an insulating coating disposed on the conductive core. The insulating coating exposes a number of conductive strips of the conductive core extending between the tip and the end. The insulating coating forms a number of insulating portions and further exposes a number of spacer portions of the conductive core longitudinally positioned between the insulating portions. The insulating portions substantially span a distance between the tip and the end and are positioned between the conductive strips.

Abstract: A method of providing turbulation on the inner surface of a passage hole (e.g., a turbine cooling hole) is described. The turbulation is first applied to a substrate which can eventually be inserted into the passage hole. The substrate is often a bar or tube, formed of a sacrificial material. After the turbulation is applied to the substrate, the substrate is inserted into the passage hole. The turbulation material is then fused to the inner surface, using a conventional heating technique. The sacrificial substrate can then be removed from the hole by various techniques. Related articles are also described.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine wash process that facilitates reducing a formation of particulate matter within a gas turbine engine is described. The engine wash process includes injecting a first liquid into the engine to remove particulate matter formed within the engine and adversely affecting engine operation and performance. A second liquid is then injected into the engine to facilitate reducing a rate of formation of particulate matter within the gas turbine engine as the engine is operated in the future. More specifically, the second liquid is an anti-static liquid that coats compressor blades within the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine wash process that facilitates reducing a formation of particulate matter within a gas turbine engine is described. The engine wash process includes injecting a first liquid into the engine to remove particulate matter formed within the engine and adversely affecting engine operation and performance. A second liquid is then injected into the engine to facilitate reducing a rate of formation of particulate matter within the gas turbine engine as the engine is operated in the future. More specifically, the second liquid is an anti-static liquid that coats compressor blades within the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An electrode for rejuvenating a cooling passage within an airfoil, the electrode including a tip, an end, a conductive core extending between the tip and the end, and an insulating coating disposed on the conductive core. The insulating coating exposes a number of conductive strips of the conductive core extending between the tip and the end. The insulating coating forms a number of insulating portions and further exposes a number of spacer portions of the conductive core longitudinally positioned between the insulating portions. The insulating portions substantially span a distance between the tip and the end and are positioned between the conductive strips.

Abstract: An article includes turbulation material bonded to a surface of a substrate via a bonding agent, such as a braze alloy. In an embodiment, the turbulation material includes a particulate phase of discrete metal alloy particles having an average particle size within a range of about 125 microns to about 4000 microns. Other embodiments include methods for applying turbulation and articles for forming turbulation.

Abstract: A turbine engine component is provided that has a surface that contains a plurality of depressions that are effective to increase the surface area of the component. The depressions are generally concave in contour and improve the heat transfer characteristics of the component. Methods for forming the turbine engine components are also disclosed.

Abstract: A curved turbulator configuration is in a radial cooling passage of an airfoil, where the radial cooling passage is defined by at least a leading wall and a trailing wall, and the airfoil includes a tip and a root. The curved turbulator configuration includes a number of spaced curved turbulator pairs positioned along a center-line on an inner surface of the leading wall and a number of spaced complementary curved turbulator pairs positioned along a center-line on an inner surface of the trailing wall. An electrode for forming the curved turbulator configuration in the radial cooling passage includes a leading face having a curved turbulator pattern, a trailing face having a complementary curved turbulator pattern, a conductive core, and an insulating coating disposed thereon that is partly removed.

Abstract: A combustor liner is provided on its backside cooling surface with a braze alloy coating and cooling enhancement material, preferably metallic particles to enhance the heat transfer between the liner and the cooling medium. The surface area of the backside coated area is increased substantially by the coating and particles in relation to the uncoated surface areas. Consequently, the life of the liner is extended.

Abstract: A casting includes a heat transfer surface having a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities include a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. Also disclosed is a mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting. The mold includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.

Abstract: Castings for gas turbine parts exposed on one side to a high-temperature fluid medium have cast-in bumps on an opposite cooling surface side to enhance heat transfer. Areas on the cooling surface having defectively cast bumps, i.e., missing or partially formed bumps during casting, are thermally sprayed to provide a metallic cooling enhancement surface layer to salvage the part.

Abstract: A combustor liner is provided on its backside cooling surface with a braze alloy coating and cooling enhancement material, preferably metallic particles to enhance the heat transfer between the liner and the cooling medium. The surface area of the backside coated area is increased substantially by the coating and particles in relation to the uncoated surface areas. Consequently, the life of the liner is extended.

Abstract: A method of forming a turbine engine component, includes providing a mold having a textured region, pouring a molten alloy into the mold, and cooling the molten alloy to form a turbine engine component, wherein the turbine engine component has an enhanced surface area region corresponding to the textured region of the mold, the enhanced surface area region comprising randomly arranged bumps.

Abstract: A casting includes a heat tranfer surface having a pluality of cavities. The plurality of cavities includes a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. Also disclosed is a mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting. The mold includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.

Abstract: A casting includes a heat transfer surface having a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities include a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. Also disclosed is a mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting. The mold includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.