Abstract: A gas turbine having a seal sealing a trench cavity defined between a stator inboard face and rotor inboard face. The seal may include a stator overhang that extends axially toward the rotor inboard face. The stator overhang may include an overhang topside, an overhang underside, and an overhang face that is defined therebetween. The trench cavity seal may include a platform lip extending axially from the rotor inboard face toward the stator inboard face and circumferentially spaced turbulators extending axially from the rotor inboard face. An outboard edge and an inboard edge of the stator overhang axially jut such that, therebetween, a recessed pocket on the overhang face is formed. The platform lip may radially overlaps the recessed pocket on the overhang face so to form a multiple switch-back flowpath.

Abstract: A blade has an airfoil, and the blade is configured for use with a turbomachine. The airfoil has a throat distribution measured at a narrowest region in a pathway between adjacent blades, at which adjacent blades extend across the pathway between opposing walls to aerodynamically interact with fluid flow. The airfoil defines the throat distribution, and the throat distribution reduces aerodynamic loss and improves aerodynamic loading on the airfoil. The airfoil has a linear trailing edge profile.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes an airfoil defined between a concave pressure face and a laterally opposed convex suction face, and a cooling configuration that includes a cooling channel for receiving and directing a coolant through an interior of the rotor blade. The cooling channel may include fluidly connected segments, in which: a supply segment extends radially through the airfoil; an outlet segment discharges the coolant from the rotor blade at a shallow angle relative to a flow direction of a working fluid through the turbine; and an elbow segment connects the supply segment to the outlet segment and is positioned near the outboard tip of the airfoil. The elbow segment may be configured for accommodating a change of direction between the supply segment and the outlet segment.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes: an airfoil defined between a pressure face and a suction face; a tip shroud that includes a seal rail projecting from an outboard surface and, formed thereon, a cutter tooth; and a cooling configuration that includes a cooling channel for receiving and directing a coolant through an interior of the rotor blade. The cooling channel may include fluidly connected segments, in which: a supply segment extends radially through the airfoil; a cutter tooth segment is formed within the cutter tooth of the seal rail; and branching segments formed within at least one of the tip shroud and an outboard region of the airfoil. Each of the branching segments may extend between an upstream port, which connects to the cutter tooth segment, and an outlet port, which is formed on a target surface area, so that the branching segment bisects a target interior region.

Abstract: A rotor blade includes an airfoil portion that extends in a radial direction from a root end to a tip end. A plurality of internal airfoil cooling passages is defined in the airfoil portion. The rotor blade also includes a tip shroud. The tip shroud includes a shroud plate coupled to the tip end. A plurality of tip shroud cooling passages is defined within the shroud plate. Each of the tip shroud cooling passages extends within the shroud plate in a direction generally transverse to the radial direction. Each tip shroud passage includes an inlet coupled in flow communication with at least one of the airfoil cooling passages, and an exit opening defined in, and extending therethrough, a radially outer surface of the tip shroud. The exit opening is coupled in flow communication with the inlet.

Abstract: A gas turbine includes a turbine and an axial-radial diffuser. The turbine includes a last stage airfoil section, which includes a first inner annular wall, a plurality of airfoils, a tip shroud including a first outer annular wall, and a stationary shroud including a second outer annular wall. The first inner annular wall is angled at a first inner angle average, the first outer annular wall is angled at a first outer angle average, and the second outer annular wall is angled at a second outer angle average. The axial-radial diffuser includes a third inner annular wall and a third outer annular wall, wherein the first diffuser section is disposed immediately downstream from the last stage airfoil section, wherein the third inner annular wall is angled at a third inner angle average, and the third outer annular wall is angled at a third outer angle average.

Abstract: A system includes a turbine airfoil configured to be disposed in a turbine. The airfoil includes a suction side, a pressure side, and a first protrusion disposed on the suction side, a second protrusion disposed on the pressure side, or both. The suction side extends between a leading edge of the turbine airfoil and a trailing edge of the turbine airfoil in an axial direction and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the turbine airfoil, and extends a height of the turbine airfoil in a radial direction along the longitudinal axis. The pressure side is disposed opposite the suction side and extends between the leading edge of the turbine airfoil and the trailing edge of the turbine airfoil in the axial direction, and extends the height of the airfoil in the radial direction. The first protrusion is disposed on the suction side of the turbine airfoil and protrudes relative to the other portion of the suction side in a first direction transverse to both the radial and axial directions.

Abstract: A turbine bucket according to embodiments includes: a base; a blade coupled to the base, extending radially outward from the base, and including: a body having: a pressure side; a suction side opposing the pressure side; a leading edge between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge between the pressure side and the suction side on a side opposing the leading edge; and a plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within the body; and a shroud coupled to the blade radially outboard of the blade, including: a plurality of radially extending outlet passageways fluidly connected with a first set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within the body; and an outlet path extending at least partially circumferentially through the shroud and fluidly connected with all of a second, distinct set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within the body.

Abstract: A turbine bucket according to various embodiments includes: a base; a blade coupled to the base and extending radially outward from the base, the blade including: a body having: a pressure side; a suction side opposing the pressure side; a leading edge between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge between the pressure side and the suction side on a side opposing the leading edge; a plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within the body; and at least one bleed aperture fluidly coupled with at least one of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways, the at least one bleed aperture extending through the body at the trailing edge; and a shroud coupled to the blade radially outboard of the blade.

Abstract: A turbine bucket according to embodiments includes: a base; a blade coupled to base and extending radially outward from base, blade including: a body having: a pressure side; a suction side opposing pressure side; a leading edge between pressure side and suction side; and a trailing edge between pressure side and suction side on a side opposing leading edge; and a plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and a shroud coupled to blade radially outboard of blade, shroud including: a plurality of radially extending outlet passageways fluidly connected with a first set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and an outlet path extending at least partially circumferentially through shroud and fluidly connected with all of a second, distinct set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle configured to be disposed in a turbine includes a suction side, a pressure side, and a bulge disposed on the suction side. The suction side extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge in an axial direction and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the turbine nozzle, and extends a height of the turbine nozzle in a radial direction along the longitudinal axis. The pressure side is disposed opposite the suction side and extends between the leading edge of the turbine nozzle and the trailing edge of the turbine nozzle in the axial direction, and extends the height of the turbine nozzle in the radial direction. The bulge is disposed on the suction side protruding relative to the other portion of the suction side in a direction transverse to both the radial and axial directions. The turbine nozzle has a first periphery defined at a first cross-section at a first location along the height of the turbine nozzle by selected coordinate sets listed in Table 1.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a turbine of a gas turbine system. The rotor blade may include: an airfoil that includes a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall defining an outer periphery, wherein the pressure sidewall and suction sidewall of the airfoil connect along a leading edge and a trailing edge; a tip that defines an outer radial end of the airfoil, wherein the tip included a cap on which an outboard projecting rail defines a tip cavity; and a rail gap formed through an aftward section of the rail.

Abstract: A rotatable blade for use in a turbomachine includes an airfoil portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge a radially-inner end and a radially-outer end; a root section at to the radially-inner end of the airfoil portion, and a part-span shroud located on the airfoil portion between the root section and the radially-outer end. The part-span shroud decreases in width and thickness from decreasing in width and thickness from the airfoil portion to a contact surface adapted to engage a mating contact surface on a part-span shroud of an adjacent blade.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle disposed in a turbine includes a suction side extending between a leading edge of the nozzle and a trailing edge of the turbine nozzle in an axial direction and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the turbine nozzle, and extending a height of the nozzle in a radial direction along the longitudinal axis, a pressure side disposed opposite the suction side and extending between the leading edge of the turbine nozzle and the trailing edge of the turbine nozzle in the axial direction, and extending the height of the nozzle in the radial direction, and a bulge disposed on the suction side of the nozzle protruding relative to the other portion of the suction side in a direction transverse to a both the radial and axial directions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade and method for forming the rotor blade. The rotor blade includes a platform having a bottom side radially spaced from a top side and a leading edge portion axially spaced from a trailing edge portion. An airfoil extends radially outwardly from the top side of the platform and a shank extends radially inwardly from the bottom side of the platform. The shank includes a lip that extends axially outwardly from a forward wall of the shank. The lip defines a radially inward surface and a radially outward surface and a plurality of slots. Swirler vane inserts are disposed within respective slots of the plurality of slots. Each swirler vane insert extends radially inwardly from the inward surface of the lip and axially outwardly from the forward wall of the shank.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to rotary machines and, more particularly, to the cooling of at least portions of a turbine bucket. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of cooling at least a portion of a turbine bucket, the method comprising: during operation of a turbine, altering a swirl velocity of purge air beneath a platform lip extending axially from the platform, wherein altering the swirl velocity of the purge air includes interrupting a flow of the purge air with a plurality of voids disposed along a length of an angel wing extending axially from a face of a shank portion of the turbine bucket.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to rotary machines and, more particularly, to the cooling of at least portions of a turbine bucket. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of cooling at least a portion of a turbine bucket, the method comprising: during operation of a turbine, altering a swirl velocity of purge air between a platform lip extending axially from the platform and an angel wing extending axially from a face of a shank portion of the turbine bucket, wherein altering the swirl velocity of the purge air includes interrupting a flow of the purge air with a plurality of turbulators disposed along at least one of a radially inner surface of the platform lip or the face of the shank portion.

Abstract: The present application provides a stage of a gas turbine engine. The stage may include a bucket extending radially about a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine, a shroud facing the bucket, the shroud including a fore end portion including a radially inner surface spaced a first distance from the longitudinal axis, and a forward step honeycomb seal positioned on the shroud downstream of the fore end portion and facing the bucket. The forward step honeycomb seal may include a first linear portion including a radially inner surface spaced a second distance from the longitudinal axis, and a forward step portion positioned adjacent to and downstream of the first linear portion, the forward step portion including a radially inner surface spaced a third distance from the longitudinal axis, wherein the second distance is greater than the third distance, and wherein the third distance is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to rotary machines and, more particularly, to the reducing mixing of packing leakage and the main flow of hot gas or steam in gas and steam turbines, respectively. In one embodiment, the invention provides a turbine bucket comprising: a platform portion; an airfoil extending radially outward from the platform portion; and at least one recess extending radially inward into the platform portion, the at least one recess being disposed at an angle relative to a leading edge of the platform portion.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade includes a tip portion having a pressure tip wall and a suction tip wall, a tip leading edge and a tip trailing edge. Also included is a squealer cavity at least partially defined by the pressure tip wall and the suction tip wall. Further included is at least one hole defined by the suction tip wall, the at least one hole configured to bleed a cooling flow out of the squealer cavity into a hot gas path to reduce pressure within the squealer cavity. Yet further included is a main body having a suction side wall and a pressure side wall each extending from a root portion of the turbine rotor blade to the tip portion.