Abstract: A turbine engine component, such as a turbine blade, has an airfoil portion, a plurality of cooling passages within the airfoil portion with each of the cooling passages having an inlet for a cooling fluid. Each inlet has a flared bellmouth inlet portion. The turbine engine component may further have a dirt funnel at the tip of the airfoil portion, a platform with at least one beveled edge, and an undercut trailing edge slot.

Abstract: A turbine engine component, such as a turbine blade, has an airfoil portion, a plurality of cooling passages within the airfoil portion with each of the cooling passages having an inlet for a cooling fluid. Each inlet has a flared bellmouth inlet portion. The turbine engine component may further have a dirt funnel at the tip of the airfoil portion, a platform with at least one beveled edge, and an undercut trailing edge slot.

Abstract: The present invention provides a turbine blade having a revised under-platform structure including a unique coating combination that reduces mechanical stress factors within the turbine blade. The turbine blade includes a platform with an airfoil extending upwardly from the airfoil and a root portion extending downwardly from the platform. Two suction side tabs extend a first distance outward from a suction side of the root potion. Two pressure side tabs extend outward from a pressure side of the root portion. One of the two pressure side tabs extends outward a distance similar to the first distance, however, the other of the two pressure side tabs extends outward a distance much smaller than the first distance, which reduces stresses acting on the turbine blade. In addition, a plurality of coatings are systematically applied to the turbine blade to further reduce mechanical stress factors and improve cooling.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved cooling circuit for a trailing edge of a turbine blade. The cooling circuit includes an inlet passage that receives a airflow and distributes the airflow through a feed passage. The feed passage primarily includes trip strips, at least one barrier including cross-over holes, teardrop shaped protrusions, and pockets disposed along a trailing edge. The geometry and positioning of both the cross-over holes and teardrop shaped protrusions downstream of the cross-over holes have been optimized to maximize cooling efficiency and reduce airflow. An improved transition between the inlet passage and the feed passage is also provided, which is arcuate and allows the airflow to maintain attachment and flow unimpeded from the inlet passage to the feed passage. The geometry of the pockets disposed along the trailing edge is optimized to improve cooling.

Abstract: A rotor blade is provided having a hollow airfoil and a root. The hollow airfoil has a cavity and one or more cooling apertures. The root is attached to the airfoil, and has a leading edge conduit, at least one mid-body conduit, and a trailing edge conduit. The conduits are operable to permit airflow through the root and into the cavity. Each conduit has a centerline. The leading edge conduit includes an inlet having a forward side, a suction side, and a pressure side that diverge from the centerline of the leading edge conduit, and an aft side. Each of the mid-body conduits includes an inlet having a suction side and a pressure side that diverge from the centerline of the mid-body conduit, and an aft side and a forward side. The trailing edge conduit includes an inlet having a suction side and a pressure side that diverge from the centerline of the trailing edge conduit. The trailing edge conduit inlet further includes a forward side and an aft side.

Abstract: A rotor blade is provided that includes a root and a hollow airfoil. The hollow airfoil has a cavity defined by a suction side wall, a pressure side wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base, and a tip. An internal passage configuration is disposed within the cavity. The configuration includes a passage disposed adjacent the leading edge, and an axially extending passage disposed adjacent the tip. The first passage is connected to the second passage. The second passage includes an opening disposed at the trailing edge of the airfoil. A conduit is disposed within the root that is operable to permit airflow through the root and into the leading edge passage, wherein the conduit provides the primary path into the leading edge passage.

Abstract: A rotor blade is provided that includes a root and a hollow airfoil. The hollow airfoil has a cavity, a leading edge, and a tip. An internal passage configuration is disposed within the cavity that includes a first radial passage, a second radial passage, and a rib disposed between the passages. The passages and the rib are contiguous with a tip endwall. The first radial passage is disposed contiguous with the leading edge. A plurality of crossover apertures are disposed in the rib. One of the crossover apertures is disposed flush with the tip endwall. A conduit is disposed within the root that is operable to permit airflow through the root and into the passages. In some embodiments, an aperture is disposed within the tip endwall aligned with the first radial passage.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a rotor blade and a method for cooling a rotor blade is provided. The rotor blade includes a root and a hollow airfoil having a cavity defined by suction side wall, a pressure side wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base, and a tip. An internal passage configuration is disposed within the cavity. The configuration includes a serpentine passage having at least three radial segments connected to one another, an axially extending passage disposed between the tip and the serpentine passage, at least one aperture extending between the last radial segment and the axially extending passage, and one or more sink apertures disposed within one of the suction side wall or the pressure side wall of the last radial segment of the serpentine passage. At least one conduit is disposed within the root. The conduit is operable to permit airflow through the root and into the internal passage configuration.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a hollow airfoil is provided that comprises a leading edge wall portion, a plurality of cavities, one or more crossover ribs, a plurality of cooling apertures, and a plurality of impingement ribs. The cavities are disposed adjacent the leading edge wall portion, between the leading edge wall portion and a first rib. The crossover ribs extend between the leading edge wall portion and the first rib, and at least one crossover rib is disposed between a pair of the cavities. The cooling apertures are disposed in the leading edge wall portion, providing a passage through which cooling air can exit the cavities. The impingement apertures are disposed in the first rib, providing a passage through which cooling air can enter the cavities. At least one of the impingement apertures is contiguous with one of the crossover ribs.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a rotor assembly is provided that includes a root, an airfoil, and a damper. The airfoil has a length, a base, a tip, a first side wall, a second side wall, and at least one cavity. The length extends the base and the tip. The at least one cavity is disposed between the side walls, and the channel is defined by a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The damper, which is selectively received within the channel, includes a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface, a forward surface, and an aft surface, all of which extend lengthwise. At least one of the surfaces is shaped to form a lengthwise extending passage within the channel. The passage has a flow direction oriented along the length of the at least one surface to permit cooling air travel along the at least one surface in a lengthwise direction. According to one aspect of the present invention, the damper has an arcuate lengthwise extending centerline.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a rotor assembly is provided that includes a root, an airfoil, and a damper. The airfoil includes a base, a tip, a pressure side wall, a suction side wall, and at least one cavity disposed therebetween, and a channel. The damper is selectively received within the channel. The channel is disposed within the cavity between a first wall portion and a second wall portion. At least one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion includes a plurality of raised features extending outwardly from the wall into the channel. The features are spaced apart from one another. The raised features extend between the damper and the wall portion from which they extend outwardly. A plurality of tortuous flow passages are formed between the damper, the respective wall portion, and the raised features extending therebetween.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a rotor assembly is provided that includes a root, an airfoil, and a damper. The airfoil includes a base, a tip, a pressure side wall, a suction side wall, and a cavity disposed therebetween. The cavity extends substantially between the base and the tip, and includes a first cavity portion, a second cavity portion, and a channel disposed between the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion. A plurality of first pedestals are disposed within the first cavity portion adjacent the channel, and a plurality of second pedestals are disposed within the second cavity portion adjacent the channel. The damper is selectively received within the channel.